Love Your Difference

Chapters

All Bark and No Bite
Trading Places
Research and Development
The Everfree Forest
A Noble Sacrifice
The Return of Laughter
Fight or Flight
To Be or Not To Be
Once Bitten, Twice Fluttershy
Love Your Difference
Ails and Remedies

All Bark and No Bite

Chapter 1

All Bark and No Bite

As the sun first peeked out from the distant horizon, gently caressing the land with the tender fingers of first light, Fluttershy was preparing to feed her animal friends. Humming happily to herself, she poured a bucket of mixed seeds on the ground, and then she lay on the soft grass and watched as a large group of birds, rabbits, squirrels, and mice came out to eat.

Smiling pleasantly, Fluttershy enjoyed the harmonic opening of this new day as the sun's warm glow spread throughout her body. Closing her eyes, she inhaled the fresh air deeply as she stretched out her wings and gave them a few early morning flaps.

Completely relaxed, she felt as though she were truly one with nature.

Quickly finishing their meal, several birds flew over and settled down on her grayish gold coat, while a small group of mice snuggled into her light pink mane. Soon, she had several small creatures, and even a fawn, nestling against her as she spoke to them in a soft, soothing voice.

It was her gift, her special talent, that enabled her to speak with animals, as well as to understand what they had to say in return. Symbolized by her cutie mark, three pink butterflies that were visible on either side of her flank, this talent allowed her to better care for the animals and moderate when they became a nuisance to other ponies.

After chatting with her furry little friends, she stood and watched them all go their separate ways before trotting toward the front door.

A small, simple wooden cottage, its roof completely covered in grass and littered with bird houses and burrows, Fluttershy's home was also home to numerous other animals.

Inside, the cottage consisted of just one large room, which was a combination of a living room and a kitchen. There was also a bathroom on the immediate left and a staircase against the back wall that led to her bedroom. Throughout the room were pet beds, bird houses, and additional bags of seed. Along the walls were various mouse holes, some nearly as high as the ceiling, complete with miniature staircases so her little friends could reach their homes with ease.

Sitting in her coziest chair and watching Angel, her pet bunny, finish his salad as she sipped her tea, Fluttershy sighed with content while the birds outside sang their morning melody.

"Oh, Angel, isn't this just a wonderful morning?" Fluttershy remarked softly. Angel, the last piece of lettuce sticking partly out of his mouth, grinned his agreement. "I feel like I could just sit right here all-"

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash crashed through her front door, causing Fluttershy to squeak in fright and drop her teacup.

"Sorry." Rainbow Dash smiled apologetically as Angel gave her a dirty look and ran to the closet to grab the broom.

The Pegasus in charge of the weather in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was a bold and brash pony that sometimes acted without thinking her actions through. She oftentimes rushed into Fluttershy's home without so much as knocking, and always managed to startle her more timid friend.

Quickly standing up, Fluttershy asked, "Is there something wrong?"

"C'mon, Fluttershy, you gotta come with me!" Rainbow Dash replied with a small backward flip in the air. "I found something I wanna show you! You're going to think it's awesome!"

"Right now?"

Rainbow Dash nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yes, right now, right now."

Looking down at her hooves and poking at the floor uncomfortably, Fluttershy mumbled, "But it's early still, and I haven't eaten breakfast yet..."

Rolling her eyes, Rainbow Dash quickly looped behind Fluttershy and pushed her through the still open front door and into the sky. "Oh, come on, Fluttershy! You can eat when we get back."

Forced to flap her wings to keep from tumbling out of the air, Fluttershy inquired, "What do you want to show me? Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," Rainbow Dash answered. "And we're going to the Everfree Forest."

"The Everfree Forest!" Fluttershy gasped as her wings snapped to her sides in fright, and she plummeted to the ground below.

Rainbow Dash swooped down and landed next to Fluttershy, who was sitting up and rubbing her flank with a grimace.

"Are you okay?" When Fluttershy nodded, she continued, "Yes, the Everfree Forest. You're not gonna chicken out on me now, are ya?"

"Um, well...YES!"

As Fluttershy began galloping away at full speed, Rainbow Dash zoomed ahead of her and blocked her path.

"Seriously, Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "You're going to be with me! What's gonna happen to you?" Hovering a few inches off the ground, she lifted her hooves and started punching the air. "Nothing will mess with us, and if it does, I'll take care of it."

"Oh...um...well..." Looking at Rainbow Dash's expectant face, she lowered her head and sighed. "All right, I'll come with you."

"Yes!" Rainbow Dash shouted, pumping her hoof in the air.

Following Rainbow Dash toward the Everfree Forest, Fluttershy began trembling as they drew near.

Why am I doing this? She thought to herself. It is always so dark in the Everfree Forest, and I am so scared of the dark. Not to mention all the dangerous creatures that roam in there.

All she wanted at that moment was to rush home and lock herself in her closet, but she knew that wasn't an option. If she did that, Rainbow Dash would be so disappointed in her, and she didn't want to disappoint her. She was almost always disappointing her friends.

Fluttershy recalled the day the dragon migration had come by Ponyville. Rainbow Dash had wanted her to come so badly, but instead she had run away and hid with her animal friends. A couple of days later, after Spike had returned to Ponyville with that magnificent Phoenix chick, Rainbow Dash had found her and told her all about the migration. Then she had hung her head and said in a quiet voice, "I wish you could have been there."

Upon hearing Rainbow Dash's disheartened tone, Fluttershy had felt so ashamed of herself. She had resolved to work harder to meet the expectations of her friends, and not let fear hold her back so much. But it was so hard at times when she was frightened, like now.

Upon reaching the Everfree Forest's edge, Fluttershy's body went rigid, and she whimpered piteously. Rainbow Dash landed lightly next to her and stared intently into the forest.

Watching Rainbow Dash silently study the forest, Fluttershy found herself admiring this brave pony. Standing tall, with her head held high as her sky blue coat glistened in the sunlight and the wind blew her rainbow hued mane away from her face, Rainbow Dash radiated confidence. Even her cutie mark, a cloud with a rainbow colored lightning bolt arcing downward, symbolized her bold and daring character.

Self-consciously, Fluttershy glanced back at her own cutie mark, before looking back at Rainbow Dash's lightning bolt, and sighed. She wished that she could be as brave as her friend. If she could just be more like Rainbow Dash, then she would never disappoint her friends.

Rainbow Dash cocked an eyebrow. "You ready?" When Fluttershy failed to answer, she said, "I'll be right here with you."

Aware of Fluttershy's fear, Rainbow Dash stood next to her friend, and with a reassuring smile, gently nudged her on.

Gathering her will, Fluttershy shoved aside her fears and followed Rainbow Dash into the forest, determined to make her friend proud this day.

Dark and dreary, the trees loomed before them, their branches bending low as if they were trying to reach the ponies passing beneath. The canopy above was so thick that only splotches of sunlight shone through, casting ominous shadows on the uneven, rocky path that they cautiously tread.

Staying only a half step behind her confident friend as they trotted through the forest, Fluttershy struggled to match Rainbow Dash's bravery, but it wasn't long before her nerves started to get the best of her. Her heart hammering in her chest, her breathing heavy, and her quivering legs proving to be less reliable than Granny Smith's bad hip, it was all she could do just to keep putting one hoof in front of the other.

Fluttershy was so focused on battling her nerves that she didn't notice Rainbow Dash had come to a sudden stop until she bumped into her.

"Whoa, careful, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash warned as the two of them stumbled.

Looking around her friend, Fluttershy saw that they were at the edge of a cliff. Below, she could see a beautiful sunlit valley with a crystal clear river running through the center. At least, it would have been beautiful if it weren't so far down. Gazing down at the valley, Fluttershy quickly became dizzy. Backing away, she flopped down on her rump and took a moment to rub her eyes.

Opening them once again, she spotted the other side of the cliff about ten feet away. "Are...are we crossing here?" Fluttershy stammered.

"That's the plan." Rainbow Dash nodded.

Fluttershy shook her head. "I don't think I can."

"Of course you can."

Pointing a hoof at the gap, Fluttershy disagreed, "No, that is much more than a hop, skip, and jump."

Rainbow Dash gently tapped Fluttershy's head. "Hello, Equestria to Fluttershy, you are a Pegasus. Use your wings." When Fluttershy shied away from her, Rainbow Dash sighed and moved to stand beside her friend. Throwing a front leg around her neck, Rainbow Dash suggested, "How about this, you just close your eyes and fly, and I'll guide you to the other side. Cool?"

Hesitantly, Fluttershy muttered, "Y-yeah."

Squeezing her eyes shut, Fluttershy walked forward with Rainbow Dash. "Now just flap your wings Fluttershy, and don't worry, I gotcha," Rainbow Dash instructed coaxingly.

Feeling Rainbow Dash supporting her gave her confidence, but after only a few brief moments in the air, her eyes popped open. Upon seeing the great distance beneath her, she shrieked with fright and bolted back to the cliff. Dropping her head to the ground, she covered it with her hooves.

"Fluttershy..."

Hearing the disappointment in her friend's voice, Fluttershy sobbed, "I'm sorry, I just can't do it." Bursting into tears, she sprinted away from the awful cliff.

Vision blurred by tears and unsure which direction led home, Fluttershy weaved through thick trunks and tall ferns. She heard Rainbow Dash calling to her, telling her she was going the wrong way, but she didn't slow down because, deep inside, she knew that she wasn't just running from the cliff. She was running from her shame.

Leaping over a log, she didn't see the pink shape ahead of her until it was too late. Unable to avoid a collision, Fluttershy crashed into a surprised Pinkie Pie, and they fell down a steep hill in a tangled heap.

Fluttershy landed uncomfortably on her stomach with Pinkie Pie lying across her. "Yay, that was fun!" Pinkie Pie cried as she pulled herself into a sitting position on Fluttershy's back. "Wanna do it again?"

Turning to face her, Pinkie Pie spotted a broken twig balanced on Fluttershy's snout, and with an enormous smile, exclaimed, "You look like you have a mustache!" Then she began laughing, her bright pink, curly mane bouncing wildly.

With her pale pink coat, bright pink tail and mane, and sky blue eyes that seemed to always sparkle with joy, Pinkie Pie was without a doubt the most well-known pony in Ponyville. It was more than just her unique colors that helped her stand out, however. This Earth pony was adored by all for her undying happiness and her love of spreading it to everypony in town.

"Oh my gosh, are you two okay?" Rainbow Dash called, peering down at them from the top of the hill. A second later, she was standing beside them.

"Hi, Dashie, you wanna roll down a hill with me too?" Pinkie Pie asked hopefully.

"Uh...no, thank you."

When Pinkie Pie only continued to sit there and smile, Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and tilted her head toward Fluttershy, who was still pinned to the ground. After waiting a moment for the Earth pony to get off her friend, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and shoved Pinkie Pie onto her back and then helped Fluttershy up.

Rubbing a sore spot on her back as she blew her mane out of her face, Fluttershy smiled her thanks. Then she turned to Pinkie Pie. "I'm so sorry for knocking you down that hill, Pinkie."

"No biggy," Pinkie Pie responded, still lying on her back and waving a hoof lazily as she stared at the canopy above.

"What are you doing out here anyway, Pink?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Oh, I'm just out for a little walk," answered Pinkie Pie.

"A walk in the Everfree Forest?" Rainbow Dash scratched her head. "You do this often then?"

"Nope, not at all," said Pinkie Pie with a smile as she stood back up.

"Uh, okay...well I'm glad you're here. I think we may be lost. Would you mind showing us the way back to Ponyville?"

Pinkie Pie beamed brightly. "I'd love to, but I have no idea where I am." Then she turned and skipped away through the dense brush, singing, "Lalalalalalala."

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy shared a look for a moment, then Rainbow Dash shrugged. "No problem, I'll just fly up and see what direction we need to go. I'll have us out of here in no time."

She took off so fast that Fluttershy's mane was blown away from her face, and she was back by the time it had fallen back into place. "We need to go that way, now let's get Pinkie and go home."

Feeling terrible about this whole mess, Fluttershy meekly said, "I'm sorry I ran away and got us lost."

"We're not lost, and don't worry about it. It's cool."

"But-" Fluttershy began.

With a hoof stomp and a snort of irritation, Rainbow Dash snapped, "Enough Fluttershy, just drop it." When Fluttershy drew back and cowered from her, Rainbow Dash moved forward and gently nuzzled her cheek apologetically. "Let's just go home, all right?"

Avoiding Rainbow Dash's gaze, Fluttershy nodded as she rubbed her leg with her hoof self-consciously.

Fluttershy knew that Rainbow Dash's sudden outburst was related to the fight that the two of them had had the week before. She felt certain that the 'surprise' that her friend had prepared had been a way for Rainbow Dash to apologize, but she had ruined it because she couldn't stop being a scaredy-pony. None of this upset her, however. What upset her was the fact that her inability to cope with her fears had once again disappointed her friend.

With Rainbow Dash in the lead, they trampled over the brush that Pinkie Pie had gone through just moments ago. It didn't take long before they found her, sitting on the ground and making funny faces.

"What are you doing?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I'm making faces at that tree," Pinkie Pie answered.

"Why?"

"Because it has a face."

Looking at the tree Pinkie Pie was indicating, Fluttershy saw that the tree did, in fact, seem to have a face. She could see what appeared to be two closed eyes above a rather bulbous nose, and below that, a horizontal slit in the trunk that almost looked like a mouth.

"Wow, that's...really weird," Rainbow Dash stated.

Their curiosity getting the best of them, the three ponies slowly approached the tree for a better look.

Fluttershy immediately recognized it as a weeping willow tree, easily the largest and most beautiful one she had ever seen. Its numerous branches were very long and drooped low, the narrow, elongated leaves hanging only inches above their heads. Looking straight up from where they were standing, it looked as if they were under a giant green umbrella.

"I wonder what made it look like that," Rainbow Dash mumbled.

"Well, trees get knots and holes in their trunks all the time," Fluttershy explained. "They are caused by all sorts of things, like for example-"

"Watch, I'm gonna honk its nose," Pinkie Pie interrupted, giggling. Pressing her hoof to the knot that resembled a nose, she shouted, "Honk, honk!"

As Pinkie Pie laughed and stepped away from the tree, Fluttershy suddenly gasped. Tumbling over, Fluttershy crashed into Rainbow Dash and caused her to stumble into Pinkie Pie.

"Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie gasped as she rushed over to Fluttershy's still form. Patting her gently on the cheek, Pinkie Pie found her to be out cold.

"Is she...snoring?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I think she is," Pinkie Pie responded. How had she fallen asleep so fast, she wondered to herself. Giving her a small shake, Pinkie Pie said, "Fluttershy, can you wake up? Fluttershy?"

"What the-" Rainbow Dash suddenly cried in alarm, and then toppled over.

Turning, Pinkie Pie found Rainbow Dash on her back, snoring quietly. "What's going on here?" she mumbled out loud.

Glancing back at the tree, she found that its eyes were now opened, and losing herself in its amber gaze, she suddenly felt tired. So tired, in fact, that she was asleep well before her head hit the soft grass.

Trading Places

Chapter 2

Trading Places

Wiping sweat from her brow as she strained to maintain focus on her spell, Twilight Sparkle maneuvered the eight mops to the large pool of water that was sitting in the center of the classroom. As each mop became saturated, it would hover toward the nearest of sixteen buckets that had been placed throughout the room, and wring itself dry before returning to its task.

Although the spell itself was rather simple, she knew that she would be unable to direct her focus to just one of the objects, as doing so would cause the other seven to fall. Instead, she reached out with her magic and felt for the presence of all eight mops, and instructed them all at the same time. However, she soon found that controlling eight objects with such precise movements was exhausting, but quickly realized that she could control them all with ease by having each mop mirror the one before it.

With her eyes tightly shut, Twilight silently labored as the pool slowly disappeared before her. Even though she could not see the mops, the buckets, or the pool of water, she could feel them, and successfully cleaned up the entire mess without opening her eyes a single time.

Her task completed, Twilight's brow furrowed with concentration as her horn began glowing with a magenta light. Suddenly, she released a surge of energy that caused the mops to sprout arms, and marching in single file, they carried the buckets of water out of the school. Glancing around the classroom one last time to be sure she hadn't missed anything, Twilight followed the mops outside and made her way to the playground where Cheerilee was scolding three young foals.

As she approached, she heard Cheerilee saying, "And I had to dismiss class early and go get Twilight so that she could help clean this mess."

Wanting to put a pleasant spin on the accident, Twilight spoke in a bright voice. "Okay, Cheerilee, all the water is gone. And it doesn't look like any permanent damage was done."

Hearing footsteps, Twilight turned her head to find Spike bounding toward them, sunlight glinting off of his purple scales. Although he was still only a baby dragon, he spoke perfectly and was very capable of handling just about any job Twilight gave him.

"I put the pipes back together," he said as he set the wrench he was holding down on a nearby swing. "But you're going to want somepony to look at it before you turn the water back on. I'm not sure that I knew what I was doing."

Cheerilee shrugged. "Oh well, at least the mess is cleaned up." Then she smiled. "Thank you so much, both of you, for coming over here on such short notice to help."

"Always glad to help," Twilight assured her. Glancing back at the school, she observed regretfully, "But I guess school is going to be canceled today."

"Yes, I figured as much," Cheerilee replied. Turning to the three fillies behind her, she added, "I've already sent all the foals home for the day, except for these three."

Twilight stared at the girls with disapproval. "What were you three thinking?"

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo lowered their heads, looking thoroughly ashamed. "We're sorry," the three of them mumbled together.

Sweetie Belle gazed up at Twilight with tear brimmed eyes. "We were just trying to be Cutie Mark Crusader Plumbers."

"Yeah, but we didn't think it through very well," Scootaloo added. Shifting her hooves uncomfortably, she caused the saddlebag of tools that was strapped to her back to clank as it swayed.

"I'd say not," Twilight admonished. "First of all, there wasn't anything wrong with the Schoolhouse's plumbing. Second, you need to turn the water off before you take apart the pipes, and lastly," Twilight's tone turned exasperated as she continued, "you need to use the correct tool to take the pipes apart. Not beat them with wrenches until they break!"

Defensively, Apple Bloom stated, "We said we didn't think it through very well."

Shaking her head and trying not to smile, Twilight lectured, "How many times have I told you girls that you can't rush your cutie marks? They will come when the time is right, and when they do, you will know what your special talent is."

"But how can we find our special talents if we don't try anything new?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle agreed. "We have to try new things to find out what we're good at."

"Or bad at," Scootaloo mumbled.

Cheerilee sighed. "It's good that you girls want to get out there and try new things, but you need to be more careful. You need to plan what you want to do ahead of time, so that you have plenty of time to think of problems that may arise. And," Cheerilee's tone turned stern, "you are not to do any of them at this Schoolhouse. Is that clear?"

Studying the ground, the three of them mumbled, together, "Yes, Miss Cheerilee."

"Also," Cheerilee continued, "since you now have the rest of the day off, I will expect you three to each turn in a five page essay tomorrow explaining what you have done wrong here today and how you will prevent such a thing from happening again in the future." She gave them a moment to groan their disappointment, then smiled. "Now run along, and have a pleasant day."

As the three started away, Spike rushed forward. "Don't forget your wrench," he reminded Scootaloo as he slipped it into her saddlebag.

"Thanks," Scootaloo said with a small smile, and then the Cutie Mark Crusaders trotted off to begin their essays.

As soon as the three were out of sight, Twilight and Cheerilee began to laugh, followed closely by Spike.

"Oh, those three are such a hoofful!" Cheerilee exclaimed.

Amused, Twilight replied, "Yes, but their hearts are in the right place."

"And they're creative," Spike interjected, pointing a clawed finger in the air.

"They most certainly are!" Cheerilee laughed.

"Twilight!" somepony called from behind.

Turning around, Twilight found Applejack racing towards them, her blonde mane and tail, both of which were tied back, flowing behind her. An Earth pony with a light orange coat, Applejack was a full-blown country girl, and one of Twilight's closest friends. Her cutie mark, three small, red apples, shined brightly in the sunlight as she galloped along. "I been lookin' all round for ya!" she stated as she came to a skidding halt in front of them, her eyes darting around as she nervously fidgeted with her light brown western hat.

"What's wrong?" Twilight asked worriedly.

"There's somethin' not right with Rainbow Dash. I don't know what, but she was bein' all strange like," Applejack told her. "She was up at the farm a little bit ago all a hoppin' round like she was Pinkie Pie, and she talked real fast like Pinkie Pie, and she even sang a little ditty just like Pinkie Pie."

Twilight frowned. "That certainly does sound like Pinkie."

"But it was Dash, Twi!" Applejack replied as she anxiously adjusted her hat. "She hopped round the farm, knocked over some apple barrels, and then ran off toward town. I tells ya, it made about as much sense as givin' a pig soap for his mud bath."

"Do you know where she is now?" Twilight asked.

Unhappily, Applejack shook her head. "I stopped by Fluttershy's on the way to town but she wasn't there. And Pinkie is missin' too. Nopony in town has seen a hair of them three all day. When I couldn't find you I got a mite worried, but then Rose told me she saw the three of y'all headed to the school, so I reckoned I'd come out here and tell ya bout what's happenin'."

Twilight tapped her chin with her hoof. "Well, we need to search the entire town, they've got to be here somewhere. Have you seen Rarity?"

"No," Applejack answered, "but I didn't check the Carousel Boutique. I was feelin' rather anxious to find ya and ask for your help."

"Okay, let's go get Rarity, and then the three of us can split up and search the town," Twilight suggested, trying to sound calm. Noticing that Applejack still looked upset, Twilight assured her, "We'll find them, Applejack, and then we'll figure out what's wrong with Rainbow Dash and help her. By nightfall, everything will be back to normal."

With a relieved smile, Applejack said, "I know it will. Thanks Twilight."

As they started off, Cheerilee offered, "Would you like me to go to Fluttershy's cottage?" Twilight paused in mid-step, embarrassed that she had so quickly forgotten about the teacher. "I could stay there in case Fluttershy returns home, or if one of the other two go there looking for her."

"Are you sure?" Twilight asked.

Cheerilee indicated the Schoolhouse. "It's not like I have anything else to do today."

Twilight smiled gratefully. "That would be great, Cheerilee. Thank you."

"It's the least I can do to repay you for your help." Cheerilee started down the road, calling over her shoulder, "Good luck finding your friends."

Cheerilee's offer had just given her another idea. "Spike, go back to the library and wait there," Twilight instructed. "If something is wrong, they may turn up there looking for me."

"You got it," Spike said as he dashed away.

"Come on, let's get Rarity and go find our friends," Twilight announced as she led the way at a hurried trot, making a brave attempt at hiding her anxiety from her worried friend.

Having been founded by Earth ponies, ponies that did not have wings or horns, Ponyville had been built without the help of magic or even the Pegasi. As a result, it was perhaps one of the smallest and most simple of settlements in Equestria. A comfortable and peaceful town, Ponyville's straightforward nature and down-to-earth residents had appealed to many ponies throughout the world, and was now home to numerous Pegasi and Unicorns as well.

Whenever she walked among the pleasant little houses and the wonderful ponyfolk, Twilight always felt a calmness within her. It was a bliss that she had simply not felt in her hometown of Canterlot, with all of its glamour and elegance.

The homes that lined the dirt road were constructed of timber wood, with overhanging second floors with balconies, and thatched roofs made of hay and various other materials, several of which also included a weather vane in the shape of a rearing horse. Spread throughout the town were numerous gardens, and many of the houses had flowers and other plants hanging from their windows, revealing the love the town's residents held for nature. To the southwest, the rolling hills of Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville's famous farm and Applejack's home, could be seen from the streets below.

At the southern edge of town was the Town Square, where the Town Hall was located. A large, circular, four story building, the Town Hall had a balcony on each floor as well as a large porch on the ground floor, and was Ponyville's primary gathering place for town meetings and ceremonies.

The Town Square was fairly large, with a variety of shops located around its perimeter, including a jewelry store and a joke shop. The entire east side of the square was used as a marketplace, with numerous stalls and tents selling everything from fruits and vegetables to saucepans and soaps. A river snaked its way past the marketplace and continued northeast through the town, forming a lake just behind the windmill.

The streets bristled with activity as the two friends made their way through the town.

On the other side of the road, Caramel waved down Sassaflash, who swooped down to land beside him. He then presented a bouquet of flowers that she promptly ate, and nuzzling each other lovingly, they trotted off together. Turning onto the street that would lead them straight to the Town Square, Twilight passed Golden Harvest standing at the corner talking to Shoeshine, who was busy munching a carrot. Further down the road, Lily Valley was busy tending to her garden, while Rose watered some potted Calla lilies. Just as they reached the square, Time Turner walked by and greeted them warmly.

Near the statue of the rearing Earth pony, located in the center of the square, were most of the town's foals. Enjoying their unexpected school-free day, the foals happily played their various games as their laughter filled the air.

A group of colts kicked a ball around the statue as a smaller, chubby colt tried unsuccessfully to catch it. Nearby, a smaller group of fillies were taking turns jumping over a long jump rope, and making sure that they remained a safe distance from the boys' more unruly play. Off on their own near the Town Hall were Snips and Snails, who had managed to tangle themselves up in the jump rope they had obviously attempted to play with.

As she crossed the square, Twilight smiled pleasantly as she watched the foals play, but then came to such a sudden stop that Applejack ran into her.

"Sorry, A.J., but I thought I saw something behind that tree," Twilight apologized as Applejack stumbled back. Staring intently at the tree, she spotted a bushy, bright pink tail as it once again flicked out from behind the trunk.

"That's Pinkie Pie, all right!" Applejack exclaimed. "I'd recognize that bushy tail anywhere."

"But what's she doing?" Twilight wondered. "It looks like she's...hiding."

"She's probably playin' a game," Applejack stated. "Ya know how she likes playin' with them foals."

Just then, Pinkie Pie's head slowly peeked out from behind the tree. She anxiously looked back and forth to see if anypony had noticed her, causing her curly mane to bounce wildly. After a moment, she slowly moved away from the tree and headed toward a nearby alleyway.

"Hey, Pinkie Pie," Silver Spoon called out as she separated from the largest of the groups of foals and pranced across the square. Pinkie Pie froze in mid-step and slowly turned to face the filly, her eyes wide and her legs wobbly.

"Aren't you going to sing me a song?" Silver Spoon asked expectantly, literally trotting in place with excitement.

"A song?" Pinkie Pie repeated, her voice soft and meek. "I-I don't know what you mean. What song?"

With a gasp, Silver Spoon demanded, "It's my birthday, Pinkie! You didn't forget...did you?"

"I...uh...um..." Pinkie Pie stuttered, shying away from the astonished filly.

"You did forget!" Silver Spoon exclaimed indignantly. "You never forget anypony's birthday, how could you forget mine? Of all ponies, why me?"

Cowering, Pinkie Pie whimpered, "Oh, I'm so...so sorry."

Diamond Tiara ran forward and stopped next to Silver Spoon. "My birthday is in a couple months," she stated, worriedly. "You aren't going to forget mine, are you?"

"Mine's tomorrow," yelled one of the colts.

Suddenly, several upset foals were surrounding Pinkie Pie, all worried that she would forget about them as well. For a moment she just stood there looking terrified, but then, with a loud wail, she sprinted away toward the river.

Unsure what was wrong with Pinkie Pie, Twilight and Applejack raced after her, but she was simply too fast. By the time they had reached the bridge, Pinkie Pie had disappeared from sight.

"Where in tarnation did she go?" Applejack asked as they searched for any hint of pink among the foliage. When Twilight only frowned and shook her head, she went on. "Rainbow Dash and now Pinkie Pie, neither one of them are actin' right. What do you reckon is wrong with them?"

"I have no idea," Twilight answered, concerned. "Let's stick with the plan. We'll go get Rarity, and then we'll search the town."

The Carousel Boutique was visible from the bridge. It resembled a two story tower, the bottom floor rounded, then growing narrower as it rose until it ended in a point with a red flag flapping in the wind at the top. On either side of the second floor window were pony figures that resembled the mannequins Rarity often used inside, both with poles passing through them much like the plastic ponies on a carousel would. The two oval windows on the first floor were draped with yellow curtains and the front door was decorated with two blue diamonds that were expertly painted onto the wood. The second diamond, on the lower half of the door, acted as a pet flap for Opalescence, Rarity's fluffy white cat. Above the door stood a large sign depicting a yellow carousel horse on a light pink pole wearing a light pink saddle.

Stepping through the shop's front door, the two ponies entered a large, circular room with several racks of clothing, as well as a couple of mannequins wearing featured outfits sitting against the far wall. To their immediate left was a pedestal that was surrounded by three full length mirrors, while to their right were a couple of fitting rooms. Toward the back of the room were several tables equip with mirrors where ponies could try out mascaras and perfumes, and beyond them, a staircase that led to the second floor and Rarity's bedroom.

"Hello, Rarity, are you home?" Twilight called.

Crossing the room, Twilight suppressed a giggle as she noticed the look Applejack gave the fitting rooms. Applejack had always found the fitting rooms silly, since, as she had told Rarity several times before, ponies don't normally wear clothes.

Just as Twilight placed her hoof on the first step of the staircase, Applejack nudged her and indicated the open door that led to Rarity's "inspiration room."

The "inspiration room" was a disaster area, every inch of the floor was covered by scraps of fabric, balls of yarn, and various fashion books. The desk was stacked with even more books and folded fabric, its drawers were hanging open with spools of thread and sheets sticking out, and the bed on the far side of the room had several rolls of fabric spread out over it.

Despite the room's terrible shape, Rarity refused to clean it. She instead referred to it as "organized chaos" and insisted that it helped her come up with new ideas.

Lying on the floor amongst the clutter was Rarity, holding up the bed sheets and gazing under the bed as her purple, tightly curled tail slowly swished in the air. With her gleaming white coat, sapphire blue eyes, and her cutie mark, three light blue diamonds that perfectly complimented her coat and tail, this Unicorn was possibly the most beautiful pony in Ponyville, and definitely the most sophisticated and glamorous.

Wondering if something had frightened Opalescence and driven her under the bed, Twilight knocked on the door frame. "Hi, Rarity, are you busy?"

With a startled cry, Rarity spun around. Placing a hoof to her chest, she exclaimed, "Oh my stars, you nearly startled the life out of me!" Giving them a pouting face, she lifted a hoof and flipped her beautifully styled mane indignantly.

"Sorry," Twilight said, smiling sheepishly. "We called when we came in, but I guess you didn't hear."

"You haven't seen Pinkie today, have ya?" Applejack inquired as she entered the room, carefully stepping over an open book laying on the floor.

"Um, well...actually."

Moving aside, Rarity pulled back the bed sheets to reveal Pinkie Pie. Somehow, she had managed to cram herself into the small space under the bed, and was shaking uncontrollably.

"She just barged in here a few moments ago and dove under the bed without a single word. I've been trying to get her to come out, but she seems awfully upset about something. Whatever could have happened?"

"We're not sure," Twilight replied as she kneeled in front of the bed. Peering at her upset friend, she spoke softly. "Hey, Pinkie, we're here to help you. Can you come out and talk?"

Shaking her head, Pinkie Pie whimpered, "Everypony wants to talk to me, everywhere I go." Covering her face with her hooves, she added, "I just want to be left alone."

Speechless, Twilight could only stare at the miserable pony crammed under the bed.

There was nothing Pinkie Pie enjoyed more than walking the streets and greeting everypony, and doing her best to make them all smile. She always said that a smile was the best gift anypony could ever give her. Even her cutie mark, three balloons, the top one yellow and the bottom two blue, symbolized her love of creating fun and laughter. Never, in all the time she had known her, had Pinkie Pie ever expressed a desire to be left alone.

Lying on her stomach, Applejack peered under the bed. "Hey there, girl, we been out lookin' for ya. All we want to know is what's got your tail in such a twist." Sticking her hoof under the bed, she continued, "You're safe with us, sugar cube, and ya know that's the honest truth. So take my hoof and let me help ya out from under this here bed."

After a brief hesitation, Pinkie Pie gripped Applejack's hoof and allowed herself to be pulled out from under the bed. Sitting up, Pinkie Pie hung her head and stared at the floor.

"So...could you tell us why you're so upset?" Twilight asked.

Poking at some fabric scraps on the floor with her hoof, Pinkie Pie timidly said, "I don't know...I can't remember anything about this morning. I don't remember waking up, or going outside. I only remember walking down the street and everypony was calling out to me and waving, and all the attention was too much. So I tried to hide, but ponies just laughed when I hid and said I was silly. Then a bunch of foals got upset because I forgot a birthday, and I panicked and came here."

"Pinkie Pie...doesn't want attention?" Rarity said in disbelief.

Applejack sat down heavily. "Now I'm really gettin' worried."

Frowning, Twilight tried to make sense of what Pinkie Pie had just said. It was as if everything that she enjoyed had been taken from her, leaving her this cowering mess that was sitting before them. What could have done this to her, and how?

"You don't remember anything about this morning?" Twilight finally asked.

Pinkie Pie shook her head. "No, nothing."

"What's the last thing you do remember?"

After taking a moment to think, she replied, "I remember going to sleep last night, and when I woke up, I was on Stirrup Street."

"Hmm..." Twilight tapped her chin with her hoof as she analyzed what she had learned so far. "Whatever happened that changed you had to have affected you between when you got out of bed and when you awoke on Stirrup Street. I think it would be a good idea to investigate the streets, ask what ponies saw earlier this morning, starting with Mr. and Mrs. Cake."

"That is a splendid idea. Somepony is bound to have seen something," Rarity agreed.

"But first," Twilight continued, "I want to find Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Once we have found them, we can let Spike watch over the three of them at the library while we figure out what happened this morning."

"That sounds like a mighty fine plan to me," Applejack stated. "And who knows, maybe Fluttershy or R.D. will have all the answers we need."

"Let's go back to the Town Square and split up," Twilight instructed. "If we gain any information or find one of our friends, we can meet back at the library." Turning to Pinkie Pie, she gently asked, "Would you like to stay here for now? I can send Spike for you once we find the other two."

Pinkie Pie nodded. "That would be nice."

Glancing over at the cluttered bed, Rarity offered, "Feel free to use my other bed upstairs if you feel you need a nap, and anything in the kitchen is yours as well."

"Thank you, Rarity," Pinkie Pie said, smiling shyly.

Once they were outside and Applejack had quietly shut the door behind them, Rarity fretted, "Oh, what has happened to our sweet Pinkie? I'll bet it was something just simply dreadful!" Dismayed, she held a hoof to her brow and looked up at the sky. "The poor dear, we must help her! Oh, we must!"

"And we will," Applejack stated, determinedly. "Now let's get a searchin'."

Glancing at the clock tower, which stood high atop its hill to the west, Twilight saw that it was half past noon. A little surprised to find that the day was already halfway over, she began to fear that they would not find their friends before nightfall. But as Applejack started off back toward the bridge, she set her worries aside, and decided to try focusing on the solution to this bizarre problem.

So far, all she knew was that Pinkie Pie had lost part of her memory. She couldn't remember waking up or going outside, and had no idea how she had gotten to Stirrup Street. She had also forgotten a birthday. Pinkie Pie had memorized everypony's birthday in Ponyville, and never forgot to wish anypony a happy birthday on their special day. If Pinkie Pie forgot a birthday, then she was definitely not herself.

Twilight considered using a memory spell to restore Pinkie Pie's memory, but that wasn't the only problem. She was no longer the happy, carefree pony that they all knew and loved. She was now asking to be left alone when before her favorite hobby was to hop around town and greet everypony. Pinkie Pie had changed, and Twilight wasn't so sure that a memory spell would fix everything.

Halfway across the bridge, Applejack slowly came to a halt and turned to face the other two with wide eyes.

Puzzled, Twilight asked, "What is it?"

Without a word, Applejack lifted a hoof and putting it under Twilight's chin, tilted her head to the sky. Twilight's jaw dropped in astonishment, and behind her, she heard Rarity gasp.

Several hundred feet above them was Fluttershy, zooming through the air at exceptionally high speeds and performing advanced aerial maneuvers. As they watched in stunned silence, Fluttershy began tracing figure eights in the air, while simultaneously maintaining a continuous corkscrew. She did this for about thirty seconds, and then shot toward them at breakneck speed before coming to a halt just in front of them. The draft from her sudden stop blew their manes away from their faces, and Applejack was forced to rear up on her hind legs to catch her hat before it was blown away.

"Did you see those moves?! Weren't they just totally awesome?" Fluttershy asked enthusiastically. When none of them responded, she frowned. "You're right, it was missing something wasn't it? Oh, I know! Check this out, this will make it about twenty percent cooler!" Before they could recover from their shock, Fluttershy was back in the sky once more.

"Oh, Fluttershy, this is so terrible!" Rarity wailed. "Now who's going to go to the Spa with me tomorrow?" Realizing that she was receiving dirty looks from both Twilight and Applejack, Rarity cleared her throat and stated with an indignant air, "Well, if I don't go at least once a week I lose my discount."

Rolling their eyes, the two turned away from her and peered back up at Fluttershy. "So, if what you've told me about Rainbow Dash is correct, then all three of them are no longer themselves," Twilight summarized.

"Twi..." Applejack spoke hesitantly. "Would ya say that Fluttershy here is actin' an awful lot like Dash? And wouldn't ya say Pinkie was actin' just a mite bit like Fluttershy would, with all the attention and all."

Of course! Pinkie Pie would never shrink away from attention or wish to be left alone, but Fluttershy was very easily intimidated every time she came into Ponyville. With the exception of her five very close friends, Fluttershy preferred to be left alone in her little cottage outside of town. Also, Fluttershy was afraid of flying because she was terrified of heights, but here she was soaring high above the ground, like Rainbow Dash typically did.

"Yes," Twilight said after a moment, "yes I would say that. And you said that Rainbow was hopping around and singing like Pinkie Pie normally would. You think that's what's happening here?"

Rarity cocked an eyebrow. "So...if you two are correct, then Pinkie Pie believes she is Fluttershy?"

Applejack shifted her hat. "I think so."

"Well, that explains it then."

"Explains what?" Applejack scratched her head in confusion.

"Why she came to the Carousel Bouquet," Rarity explained. "Fluttershy often comes to my shop when she is feeling overwhelmed. She always said that watching me work relaxes her, especially when I sew. And then one day she was so distressed that watching me at work hadn't been enough, so I had treated her to the Spa." With a smile and a wink, Rarity added, "That's how our weekly spa dates began."

"That confirms it then," Twilight said, matter-of-factly. "Each of our friends believe that they are somepony else."

"Yes, but how?" inquired Rarity.

"Magic, that's how," Twilight replied. "I really want to get back to the library now, I've got some research I want to do."

Research and Development

Chapter 3

Research and Development

Suddenly, accompanied by another strong gust of wind, Fluttershy was hovering right in front of them again. "How about that? That was much more impressive, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, um...quite impressive," Twilight replied uncertainly.

Quickly stepping forward, Applejack said, "Twilight here was just sayin' how much she liked watchin' ya doin' them fancy tricks in the air, but she has to head on back to the library now. How's about ya come with us so she don't have to miss any of them moves ya been workin' so hard on?"

Fluttershy contemplated this, then shrugged. "Yeah, sure, why not. Then everypony in Ponyville can check out my awesomeness."

Watching Fluttershy shoot back into the air, Rarity complimented, "That was exceptionally quick thinking, Applejack."

Applejack smiled and tipped her hat in appreciation. Then, checking to be sure that Fluttershy was following, led the way to the library.

A few minutes later, as they rounded a turn, the Sugercube Corner came into view. Aside from being the most popular dessert shop in town, it was also the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cake, their twin babies, and Pinkie Pie, who was a live-in employee.

Like most other structures in Ponyville, the Sugercube Corner was constructed of timber wood, but its roof resembled that of a gingerbread house, complete with icing eaves. The second and third floor resembled a pair of stacked cupcakes with pink icing, complete with three candles stuck in the top. The door and window shutters were the same color as the cupcake icing, and to either side of the door were candy cane posts. Beside the steps that led to the front door was a small cluster of pink flowers, and on the opposite side hung a yellow sign that featured a large cupcake.

As the friends were walking by, the front door opened and Lyra Heartstrings carefully descended the stairs, carrying a pitcher of milk in her mouth. Directly behind her came Sweetie Drops, who was balancing a box of cookies on her back. Without warning, Sweetie Drops missed a step and stumbled into Lyra, causing her to tumble down the remaining steps and dump the milk onto the ground. Staring at the small puddle on the road, Lyra began to weep silently.

Just then, Rainbow Dash came skipping out of the alleyway beside them, followed closely by Daisy Jo the cow. "I hear that you need some mooore milk, eh," Daisy Jo said pleasantly. As Lyra and Sweetie Drops expressed their appreciation, Rainbow Dash smiled gleefully and hopped away.

Crossing the street, Rainbow Dash headed toward Sea Swirl, who was struggling with a grocery bag that was a little too full. As she approached, Sea Swirl lost her balance, causing several oranges to fall to the ground. Quickly scooping them into the air, Rainbow Dash jumped up, and bumping them with her flank, bounced them perfectly back into the bag. Grinning widely as Sea Swirl thanked her, Rainbow Dash then sprinted down the street a little ways and forced herself between Cranky Doodle and Matilda, who had been having an argument. Splitting them apart, she then broke out into a very silly, and very random dance that soon had the both of them chuckling. Rainbow Dash beamed brightly as the two donkeys continued to laugh and quickly made up with each other.

Speechless, Twilight could only stare at this new Rainbow Dash as she pranced down the street. Suddenly realizing that they were about to lose her once again, Twilight quickly called out, "Hey, Rainbow, over here!"

Upon noticing her friends, Rainbow Dash skidded to a halt and hopped toward them. She then proceeded to hop around them in a tight circle. "Oh, hiya gals! Whatcha doin'?"

"We've been looking for you," Twilight told her. "Would you please come with us to the library?"

"Of course!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, coming to a halt. "There is nothing I like more than being with my very besty best of bestest of best friends!"

"Uh, Rainbow Dash?" Applejack spoke up. "Do ya happen to remember anything about this mornin'? Anything that made ya feel any different?"

"Nope. I can't remember anything at all about this morning," Rainbow Dash said, smiling brightly. "I just woke up all of a sudden in the Town Square, a little bit strange now that I stop and think about it, and there were a bunch of foals there so I played with them for a while. Then I took a walk around town so I could say hello to all of my friends and spread some smiles, but you know, everypony has been giving me funny looks today." Tapping her chin with her hoof, she looked off into the distance. "Hmm...I wonder why."

Behind Applejack, Twilight and Rarity exchanged looks, then Twilight said, "Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out, Rainbow. Let's get back to the library so we can find a way to fix this problem."

Even though she was already facing Rainbow Dash, when Twilight turned around, Rainbow Dash was right in her face. "Oh, oh, there's a problem? Can I help? I love helping with problems, especially when they're my friend's problems! Can I help? Oh, can I, can I, can I?"

"Uh, sure," Twilight said, stumbling back.

"Yipee!" Rainbow Dash shouted, then went skipping off toward the library.

Although she was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the changes her three friends had undergone, Twilight couldn't help but smile as she followed the happy-go-lucky mare down the street.

Located north of the Town Hall, near the center of Ponyville, the Golden Oaks Library was an enormous hollowed-out tree. It had numerous windows throughout its trunk that helped flood the main reading room with natural light, and two balconies, one halfway up the tree, and the other, which was often used for the study of astronomy and came equip with a telescope, was at the very top. A large sign standing next to the tree portrayed an open book.

Thankful to have finally reached the library, Twilight tilted her horn toward the door and as it swung open on its own, stepped aside to allow the others to enter.

The main reading room was a huge, circular room with a large round table at its center, and on the far side, a curving staircase that led to Twilight and Spike's living quarters. Standing on the center of the table was a finely detailed wood carving of a horse's head, its ears up and attentive, as if it were listening to a story being told. The bookshelves, which were masterfully carved from the wood of the walls, were crammed full of every type of book that could be imagined.

Inside, a restless Fluttershy awaited, tapping her hoof impatiently. "What took you so long?"

Before Twilight could respond, Rarity rushed forward, her face a mask of dismay. "Oh, darling, just look at what all that flying around has done to your mane." Turning to Spike, who was busy dusting the bookshelves, she asked, "Spike, would you be a dear and fetch a brush?"

Immediately dropping the feather duster, Spike dashed across the room and bounded up the stairs. In only a moment's time, he was back with a brush.

Toying with the large green spine on the top of his head affectionately, Rarity said, "Thank you so much, Spikey-wikey."

"Anything for you," Spike replied in a love struck voice.

Rolling her eyes, Twilight reached out with her magic and dragged Spike across the room by his tail. Stepping around him to block his view of Rarity, Twilight said, "Hello, lover boy, I have a job for you."

Spike blinked. "A job? Sure, what do you need?"

"I need you to go over to the Carousel Boutique and fetch Pinkie Pie and bring her back here, but try the best you can to keep her hidden." Seeing the confusion on his face, she explained, "She has had a rough day, and would rather not have the attention that everypony usually gives her."

Still perplexed, but always determined to get Twilight's tasks done perfectly, Spike nodded. "I'll get her here without anypony seeing her."

Twilight smiled sweetly. "I knew I could count on you, Spike."

As Spike headed out the door, Twilight became aware of the argument between Fluttershy and Rarity. While Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat and watched, Rarity, hoof stomping with frustration, heatedly said, "Now, Fluttershy, you are such an elegant and graceful pony that it is simply unacceptable for your mane to look anything less than perfect. If you do not let me brush those knots out, things are going to get very ugly very quickly."

"You'd better let Rarity have her way," Applejack warned.

Scolding, Fluttershy flopped down on the floor. "Fine."

As Rarity's horn began to glow with a bluish light, the brush floated above Fluttershy's head and began making long strokes down her mane.

Slightly amused by Flutteshy's grunts as the brush caught on the knots in her mane, Twilight realized that, now that they were together in the library, except for Pinkie Pie who would arrive shortly, she was feeling much better about their current situation. Her horn glowing magenta, Twilight selected a book from one of the top shelves and guided it onto the pedestal next to her, and began flipping through the pages.

Moving beside her and watching in silence as the pages turned themselves for a few moments, Applejack finally said, "Shouldn't ya be lookin' in your book about the Everfree Forest? I reckon that's where the answers we need are gonna be."

Twilight frowned. "How so?"

"Really, Twilight?" Applejack indicated the others. "Where else round here can a pony go to get this messed up in a single mornin'?"

"Good point."

Letting her current book fall to the floor, Twilight pulled an entire bookshelf's worth of books out and while they hovered over her head, let them slowly glide in front of her so that she could read the titles. After a few minutes, she had four very large stacks on the floor behind her and was starting to get annoyed.

Twilight stomped a hoof in frustration. "Urgh, why can't I find it!?"

Applejack gave her a quizzical look. "Twilight, didn't ya just have your monthly re-shelvin' day last week?"

Appalled, Twilight answered, "No, no, no, that was my reorganization day. That is way different than re-shelving day."

"Ah." Applejack scratched her head. "Okay then, my mistake."

Just then, Owlowiscious, the overnight library attendant and Twilight's pet owl, swooped down carrying a book in his talons. "Hey, this is it!" Twilight exclaimed. "Thanks Owlowiscious!"

As Owlowiscious hooted gleefully, the front door opened and Spike stepped inside, followed by a very timid Pinkie Pie. As soon as she saw that she was alone with her five best friends, Pinkie Pie smiled shyly and stood up a little straighter, obviously feeling safer in their company.

"Oh, good," Applejack said, relieved. "I'm as happy as my ole Granny Smith in the kitchen now that we're all finally back together."

Smiling her agreement, Twilight turned her attention back to the book.

Titled 'The Magics and Mysteries of the Everfree Forest,' the book contained information on all of the known life forms that resided in the Everfree Forest. However, since much of the Everfree Forest remained unexplored, the information within the book was extremely limited.

Slowing leafing through the pages, Twilight skimmed over poison joke, manticores, the cockatrice, and various other plants and creatures and the ill effects that they could inflict upon ponies before finally coming to a halt.

"Hey, I think this is it," Twilight said, looking up and seeing all of her friends lean forward anxiously.

Noticing that Rarity's attention had just shifted from her, Fluttershy slowly edged out from under the brush and discreetly moved to sit beside Rainbow Dash.

"It's called the Sleeping Weeping Willow," Twilight told them.

Blinking, Applejack repeated, "The Sleeping...Weeping Willow?"

Nodding, Twilight read, "The Sleeping Weeping Willow is the largest known willow tree in Equestria, and is identifiable by an unmistakable face found on its trunk. Its eyes are usually closed, but if they are open, beware. Its eyes are capable of hypnosis and those that find themselves caught in their gaze will be put to sleep. Then the Sleeping Weeping Willow will place a spell over its sleeping victim, causing them to become whatever they had last come into contact with, be it creature or pony."

"Oh, what a horrid tree," Rarity said distastefully. "Just casting spells on innocent ponyfolk who are passing by. What nerve!"

"Does the book say how to break the spell," Applejack asked. When Twilight remained silent, she pressed, "Twi? Is there a counterspell?"

"No," Twilight finally replied as dread knotted her stomach. "Nopony knows exactly what spell the willow casts, so it is unknown how to counteract it."

There was a long silence as the three of them gazed anxiously at their troubled friends while the implications of what Twilight had just said sank in.

Rarity was the first to break the silence. "Do you know of any spells that could possibly switch them back?"

Ever since she was a young filly and had witnessed Princess Celestia raise the sun at the Summer Sun Celebration, Twilight had been obsessed with magic. She had studied hard and eventually enrolled in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, but lost control of her power during an entrance exam in which she was supposed to hatch a dragon egg. Her magic not only hatched the egg, it also caused the baby dragon inside to grow enormous, turned her parents into potted plants, and levitated the four teachers giving her the exam. Princess Celestia herself had arrived and set everything right with her own magic, and had been impressed by the enormous power Twilight had released. That day Twilight gained a very special place as Princess Celestia's personal pupil, as well as a wonderful new friend, Spike. That was also the day she received her cutie mark, a pink star with five small white stars surrounding it symbolizing that her special talent was magic itself.

Despite all of this, she didn't know if she could reverse this particular spell. She could perform memory spells, time spells, transfiguration spells, and she knew of aging spells, although they were currently too difficult for her, but she had never even heard of a spell that completely changed who a pony was. She thought long and hard, recalling every magic book she had ever read, but could think of nothing.

Hanging her head miserably, Twilight flopped down on her rump and admitted, "No, I've never even heard of a spell like this before."

Panic gnawed at the back of her mind, threatening to consume her rational thoughts. How could this be happening? Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control, was there really nothing she could do?

Come on, Twilight think! She desperately urged herself. Your friends are counting on you for the solution! How could you possibly let them down? But I've never heard of a spell like this before. It doesn't matter, you are intelligent, resourceful, find a way! I can't. Yes, you can! What are your friends going to think of you if you can't solve this problem?

Without her even being aware of it, Twilight's ears and eyes began twitching as she began to frantically pull at her mane.

Recognizing the symptoms of a Twilight Sparkle mental breakdown, Rarity rushed forward and batted her hooves from her mane. "Now stop that this instant," Rarity commanded sternly as the brush zipped across the room and hovered over Twilight's head. "You are obscuring your stripes." The stripes Rarity was referring to were two stripes, one pink and the other magenta, on her otherwise dark purple mane and tail.

As Rarity fretted over her mane and muttered to herself, Twilight immediately began to calm down. It wasn't that somepony fixing her mane made her feel better, it was because she understood that Rarity was doing the only thing she knew to do to help her friend cope, and that generous gesture heartened her much more than the deed itself.

"I don't know if that book is entirely right," Applejack said. "Rainbow Dash has been answerin' to her name just fine. According to the book, shouldn't she think she's Pinkie?"

Frowning, Twilight glanced over at Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. The three of them had moved closer together and were now listening to their conversation with concern, as if they only just now realized that something was wrong.

"Somethin' switched all right," Applejack continued. "But what? I think they know their names, so it can't be their identities, maybe their memories?"

Tapping her chin with a hoof, Twilight contemplated what Applejack said.

As she focused on identifying what the problem was, instead of her inability to solve it, the last of her panic dissipated. Suddenly, Twilight smiled as she realized that Applejack had purposefully kept her mind trained on a solution for this very reason. Feeling a warm glow within, Twilight beamed at Applejack and nuzzled Rarity's cheek fondly, thankful to have such great friends that always knew what to do when she was feeling down.

Feeling confident once more, Twilight announced, "I'm going to test them and see who is who."

Mental breakdown averted, Twilight stood up. Looking Fluttershy squarely in the eyes, she said, "Hey, Rainbow Dash, come here."

Smiling broadly, Rainbow Dash hopped forward. "What can I do you for?"

Returning her smile, Twilight said, "That's all I needed, Rainbow. Please go back to your place beside Fluttershy."

"Okey-dokey-lokey!" Rainbow Dash responded happily, and skipped back to her spot.

"So they do still know who they are," Applejack observed.

Stepping up to Fluttershy, Twilight inquired, "Do you remember the dragon migration? How did it make you feel?"

Without hesitation, Fluttershy replied, "No, I missed it...because..." Seemingly confused, she shook her head, then continued, "Because I was scared. But...why would I be scared of a dragon migration?"

Frowning at Fluttershy's apparent confusion, Twilight moved on to Rainbow Dash. "Do you remember the time that Rarity had wings and they melted and she-"

"Oh, really," interrupted an annoyed Rarity. "How many times must you all bring this back up?"

With a mischievous smile, Applejack asked, "Would you rather her ask Dash what she remembers about Tom?"

Making angry, sputtering noises, Rarity hoof stomped in frustration. Flopping down heavily on her rump with her forelegs crossed against her chest, she refused to meet any of their gazes.

Taking a moment to ensure Rarity would not interrupt again, Twilight repeated, "Do you remember the time that Rarity had wings and they melted and she was falling to her doom? Can you tell me what happened?"

"I went into a super neato dive!" Rainbow Dash answered with an enormous grin. "And performed the Sonic Rainboom for only the second time in my whole life, and saved Rarity just before she went KER-SPLAT!" Rainbow Dash emphasized the last word by slamming her hooves together forcefully. Practically vibrating with excited energy, she added, "I won the Best Young Flyer Competition, and got to spend a whole day with the Wonderbolts!"

Giving Twilight a puzzled look, Rainbow Dash asked, "But, how could I have done that?" Then, with an extremely loud gasp, she exclaimed, "I have wings! I do, I do!" Then, leaping into the air, she flew in circles over their heads as she broke out in song.

I can fly, fly, fly

Through the sky, sky, sky

It's as easy as pie, pie, pie

I have wings and can fly, fly, fly!

"How in tarnation could Rainbow forget she has wings?" Applejack inquired in amazement as she watched Rainbow Dash continue to fly circles and sing.

"I don't think she did," Twilight replied. "She just forgot to remember them until now."

"Now that doesn't make even an ounce of sense!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Sure it does," Applejack disagreed. "Her head has been all fuddled like from that blasted tree. Why, I bet she's been as confused as a goat on astroturf."

Believing that she now knew what the true problem was, Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie. "When is my birthday?"

Eyes suddenly growing wide, Pinkie Pie cowered away. "Oh, I don't know," she whimpered, covering her head with her hooves. "Please don't be angry with me."

"I think you do know," Twilight pressed. "You are just forgetting to remember, like Rainbow Dash and her wings. You're Pinkie Pie, you have an eidetic memory, and you know everypony's birthday in Ponyville. Just take a minute and try real hard, and don't worry, no pony will get upset with you if you can't remember."

"She has a what now?" Fluttershy asked, bewildered.

"An eidetic memory," Applejack explained. "It's what some ponies call a photographic memory. It means she can remember things much more clearly than the rest of us. Like, she never forgets a face, or anything ya tells her. It all gets stored away in her little poofy head, like a big ole stack of photographs."

Eyes squeezed shut in concentration, Pinkie Pie was silent for several moments. Suddenly looking at Twilight, she said, "Your birthday is in ninety three days, eleven hours, and twenty two minutes."

Twilight beamed. "Great job, Pinkie, I knew you could do it." Turning to the others, she explained, "They didn't become anypony else, they've retained their identities and memories, it was their personalities that were switched."

"So..." Spike said slowly. "We now have Pinkie Shy, Flutter Dash, and Rainbow Pie." Rubbing his temples, he added, "This is giving me a headache, and I'm late for my nap. Good luck with everything."

Watching Spike climb the stairs with amusement, Twilight said, "This is great, now that we know it was just their personalities that-"

At that moment, Rainbow Dash swooped by exceptionally low, causing them all to quickly duck to avoid a collision. Twilight heard her singing, "Oh, I believe I can fly-" as she passed overhead.

Standing back up and flipping her mane, Rarity asked, "Forgive me for being such a negative Nancy, but how does knowing this help us?"

"We know exactly what the problem is now," Twilight replied. "And it isn't anything near as bad as I feared. I was so worried that they wouldn't remember their names, or who they were, or anything, but they know perfectly well who they are. And they seem to be remembering things just fine." Turning to Pinkie Pie, she asked, "Are you remembering more now?"

Pinkie Pie nodded. "Yes, I'm remembering how I used to be, and why everypony was calling out to me earlier. And I remember the tree now too."

"You do!" Twilight exclaimed. "What do you remember?"

"Not much," Pinkie Pie answered. "Just its eyes. They were a beautiful amber, like pools of fresh honey."

"Pools of fresh honey?" Rarity remarked. "They sound absolutely fabulous."

Pinkie Pie shrugged. "Yes. But I got drowsy when I looked into them, and next thing I knew, I was back in town."

"Oh, they must be simply dazzling to hypnotize you so," Rarity stated. "I am quite interested in meeting this willow tree."

Applejack turned to Pinkie Pie. "Would ya be able to lead us all back to it?"

Swallowing hard, Pinkie Pie replied, "I think so...but do we really have to go back into the Everfree Forest?"

"We do if y'all wanna be right as rain again," Applejack told her. "It'll be just fine, sugar cube, we're all gonna be right there with ya." She turned to Twilight. "I say we all go to that confounded tree and demand it fix our friends."

"I think that is an excellent course of action," Rarity agreed.

"It's settled then," Twilight declared. "Let's go find this willow and make it help our friends."

As the others made their way to the door, Twilight looked up and saw that Rainbow Dash was slowly floating across the room, completely upside down and still singing.

"Are you coming, Rainbow?" Twilight hollered to her.

"Of course," Rainbow Dash called, then bolted for the door. Unfortunately, she misjudged her angle of approach and slammed into the wall right next to the door. Standing up and shaking her head, Rainbow Dash said thickly, "I'll be right there." Stumbling awkwardly through the opened door, Rainbow Dash tripped over her own hooves and landed face down in the street.

Rolling her eyes, Twilight stepped outside with the others, then paused as she realized that somepony was missing.

Glancing around with concern, Twilight asked, "Where's Fluttershy?"

The Everfree Forest

Chapter 4

The Everfree Forest

As the others quickly glanced around, Applejack disappeared back inside the library. A moment later, she stuck her head outside. "Uh, Twi, can ya come here a minute?"

"What is it?" Twilight asked as she stepped back inside.

Instead of answering, Applejack pointed a hoof to the other side of the room, where Fluttershy lay huddled against a wall, ears drooping as she stared at the floor.

Worried, Twilight trotted hurriedly to her. "Fluttershy...what's wrong?" As she drew near, she glimpsed a tear roll down Fluttershy's snout and fall to the wooden floor. "Why are you crying, are you hurt?"

Covering her face with her hooves, Fluttershy took a deep, shaky breath, then leaped into the air. Hovering a foot off the ground, she gave them a cocky smile. "I'm not crying, I just had something in my eye. We ready to go then? Great, let's go."

As Fluttershy dashed toward the door, Twilight quickly grabbed her tail with her magic as she passed. Coming to an abrupt halt, the Pegasus hung upside down in mid-air. After a moment, Twilight released her, causing her to fall in an awkward pile on the floor.

"Sorry about that, Fluttershy," Twilight said with an apologetic tone. "But you need to tell us what's wrong. I can't even imagine how confused you must be, but you can't keep anything inside, you have to talk to us. Too much has happened today for you to try to handle it all by yourself."

Sitting up, Fluttershy looked from Twilight to Applejack, and then turned her gaze to the floor. "I remember everything."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"I remember who I was, er, am...whatever," Fluttershy replied. "I remember that I'm scared of everything. Everything."

"Oh, come off it now. You're not scared of everythin'," Applejack assured her.

"I'm afraid of heights, and the dark, and loud noises. I'm afraid of being laughed at, of what others think of me, of standing up for myself. Once, my own shadow surprised me and I hid before I realized what it was. And most of all, I'm afraid of disappointing all of you, my friends." Lifting her head, her face a mask of shame, she concluded, "I think that pretty much covers everything."

Unsure of what to say, Twilight and Applejack remained silent as Fluttershy continued.

"Earlier, when I was doing those stunts, I loved the feel of the wind blowing through my mane, the adrenaline pumping through my veins, how could I have been so scared of flying? I think of the dragon migration, and it sounds totally awesome, I don't understand how it could have frightened me." Hanging her head miserably, Fluttershy added, "I don't know why you're all my friends, it must be a real pain in the rump to always deal with such a scaredy-pony."

"Oh, Fluttershy..." Twilight said quietly, wanting nothing more than to be able to ease her friend's sorrow.

"Now, sugar cube, that ain't right at all," Applejack stated.

"But, the way I was-"

"The way ya are is the way ya need to be for us to love ya," Applejack interrupted. "We don't need no fearless Fluttershy flyin' around. We need our timid, shy, wonderful Fluttershy, no other will ever do. We all love ya exactly for who ya are, and not a one of us has ever wished you were anypony else."

"Really?" Fluttershy asked.

Twilight nodded earnestly. "Really. I've always been honored to count you as my friend, and I truly treasure those moments when I was there to witness you overcome a fear. And like Applejack said, I love you dearly, for who you are."

Fluttershy sniffled. "Now look, I went and got all sappy."

Applejack smiling kindly. "And we won't tell a soul, will we Twilight?"

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Twilight agreed, reciting Pinkie Pie's sacred oath.

"Thanks." Fluttershy said, her ears perking back up as she smiled self-consciously. "Both of you."

Applejack headed for the door. "Now, let's get out there and make that no good tree put our friends back right."

"Is everything all right?" Rarity asked as they stepped back outside.

Nodding, Twilight glanced over at Fluttershy, who had just taken to the air. Knowing that she probably wanted to be alone, Twilight told her, "Meet us at your cottage. We'll be there shortly."

"Will do," Fluttershy called as she shot through the sky, narrowly missing Flitter and Cloudchaser, and causing them to spin-out.

As they recovered, Flitter asked, incredulously, "Was that Fluttershy?!"

Mouth hanging open in disbelief, Cloudchaser didn't answer as she watched Fluttershy rocket off into the distance.

Noticing Rarity's frown, Applejack quickly explained, "Fluttershy's never been able to fly like that before, it's a new and excitin' experience for her. I don't blame her for wanting to go off on her own and enjoy it while she can."

"Of course." Rarity smiled, obviously satisfied with Applejack's explanation.

As the others started down the street, Twilight lingered a moment longer, staring up at the sky where she had last seen Fluttershy.

After a few moments, she hurried to catch up with her friends.

Feeling somewhat depressed, Twilight couldn't stop thinking about Fluttershy. The spell was taxing her far more than the other two. Rainbow Dash didn't really seem to mind the change, and at worst, Pinkie Pie was just having an awful day. However, Fluttershy was being forced to face all of her flaws and fears. Having the personality of a pony as proud and brave as Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy would undoubtedly beat herself up for all of her shortcomings. Twilight hoped that they could make the Sleeping Weeping Willow change her back before her suffering could get any worse.

"Do you really think the willow will change us back?" Pinkie Pie asked suddenly, causing Twilight to start. Seeing her jump, Pinkie Pie turned her eyes to the ground. "Oh, I scared you. I-I'm sorry."

"You're fine, I was just thinking," Twilight reassured her. "And, yes, I do think it will turn you back."

"That's good," Pinkie Pie said with a shy smile. "I really look forward to being myself again, and the sooner the better. I'm going to have to make an extra special party for poor Silver Spoon. She was so upset that I forgot her birthday, I feel so terrible."

"You'll make it up to her, and she'll be the happiest foal in Ponyville."

"I know that ordinarily, I would be excited about throwing this party," Pinkie Pie stated as her gaze rose to the sky. "But right now, all I feel is anxiety about all the preparations that I'm going to need."

"But by tomorrow, you'll be your old self, and preparing a party will be as easy as pie for you."

Pinkie Pie giggled softly. "Easy as pie, you're funny, Twilight."

What Twilight would never admit to Pinkie Pie was that she wasn't entirely sure the Sleeping Weeping Willow would help them. Honestly, she wondered, what would they do if it simply refused? They could threaten it, maybe start a fire nearby, but were they really willing to do something like that? Even if it was to help their friends, Twilight couldn't help but think that it would be wrong to threaten the tree.

As they left the town and headed west toward Fluttershy's cottage, they passed Daisy returning with a basketful of plants. Smiling pleasantly and greeting them as she passed, Daisy suddenly tripped over a rock and fell in a heap, her basket bouncing on the ground and spilling her precious plants.

Without hesitation, Pinkie Pie dashed forward and began picking up the plants and placing them neatly in the basket while Twilight helped Daisy back up. "Here you go," the Earth pony said in a cheerful voice as she gave Daisy the basket.

Daisy gave her an appreciative grin. "Thank you so much, Pinkie."

"Anything to bring a smile to one of my friends." Pinkie Pie smiled brightly.

Giggling, Daisy called, "You're the best Pinkie," as Pinkie Pie pranced away. Turning to Twilight, who was staring at Pinkie Pie with her mouth hung open, Daisy asked, "Are you okay?"

Instead of answering, Twilight rushed after Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie, you're back to normal! How did you do it!?"

Cringing at Twilight's loud voice, Pinkie Pie fell back. "Do what?"

Twilight felt her heart sink. "You were just your old self back there."

"I was?"

Didn't you notice?" When Pinkie Pie slowly shook her head, Twilight continued, "You helped Daisy pick up her plants."

"Yeah, I guess I did," Pinkie Pie agreed quietly.

"But, why?" Twilight insisted.

Eyes growing wide, Pinkie Pie hung her head as her ears drooped sadly. "I'm sorry, Twilight. I helped Daisy because I thought she needed it, but I didn't know it would upset you so much."

Appalled, Twilight shook her head. "No, I'm not mad Pinkie, it's good that you helped Daisy. I'm just asking because you were your true self back there, but now you're not."

"I'm sorry I can't help you," Pinkie Pie replied unhappily.

Although her heart ached for her friend, Twilight smiled warmly. "Don't be sorry, Pinkie, it isn't your fault. We'll figure this out soon enough."

"I hope so," Pinkie Pie said gloomily as she turned and followed the others down the dirt road.

What had just happened? Twilight went over the last couple of minutes again and again, but could not figure it out. For a moment, she had been the real Pinkie Pie, but now she was definitely Fluttershy again. How could her true personality have surfaced so suddenly? And why had it gone away again?

Lost in thoughts that were consumed with doubt and worry, Twilight wasn't even aware that they had arrived at their destination until she stepped onto the small bridge that spanned the stream in front of Fluttershy's cottage.

Looking up, she found Fluttershy lounging on a cloud, completely stretched out with her head hanging over the edge as she gazed down at them. Simply sliding off the cloud headfirst, Fluttershy allowed herself to fall. Spreading her wings, she swooped just before hitting the ground, causing all of them to duck as she passed overhead. With a small loop, she landed expertly beside Applejack.

Remembering Cheerilee, Twilight approached the cottage and knocked on the front door. Opening the door, Cheerilee smiled upon seeing them. "Oh, good. Looks like you found them."

"Yes, but thank you so much for your help," Twilight replied.

"Oh, no trouble at all, it was fun really." Indicating Angel, who was sitting on the floor surrounded by several paper bunnies, Cheerilee grinned. "Angel here was teaching me origami."

"Really? Huh...well, anyway, you can go on back to town now. And thanks again for everything."

Smiling happily, Cheerilee trotted away. Once she had crossed the bridge, she waved a hoof in the air and pleasantly called back, "You all have a wonderful day now."

Once she was out of sight, the six friends made their way to the edge of the Everfree Forest.

Trailing behind the others, Twilight watched as Pinkie Pie began to slow her pace, allowing the others to pull ahead of her. Trotting up beside her, Twilight said, "You've got to do this, Pinkie. We need your help to find the tree."

Standing in silence and visibly shaking, Pinkie Pie stared at the great expanse of trees that lay ahead. After a few moments, Twilight coaxed her on. "I understand that you're scared, Pinkie, but I know you can do this. If not for yourself, then do it for Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash."

Suddenly standing tall, with ears perked up and head held high, Pinkie Pie stated, "You're right. My friends are counting on me to guide them to that tree. I can't let them down, no matter how afraid I am." With a look of determination, Pinkie Pie marched toward the forest, followed by a beaming Twilight.

"Oh, I despise nature," Rarity complained, stepping carefully around a mud puddle. "It's so grimy, and icky, and," she paused to watch a bug buzz past her face, "and naturey."

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Don't be so prissy. We got enough to worry about without your complainin'."

"You know what nature is good for?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"What?" inquired Rarity.

"FUN!" shouted Rainbow Dash. Jumping up and grabbing a vine, she swung and slammed into the thick trunk of a tree. Landing on her back next to a large, hollow log, Rainbow Dash rolled onto her stomach, and gave Rarity a sly smile as she crawled inside. "I bet you can't find me!" she called, her voice echoing from inside the log.

With a snort of annoyance, Rarity started toward the log. "Don't be ridiculous, Rainbow Dash, I just saw you go in the..." She trailed off as she peered into the empty log.

"SURPRISE!" Rainbow Dash screamed gleefully, hanging upside down from a branch overhead, her face swinging inches away from Rarity's.

With a cry of surprise, Rarity stumbled backward and tripping on a root, fell back on her rump. "But I...how did...I saw..." Closing her eyes to gather her thoughts as Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground grinning broadly, Rarity asked, "How did you do that?"

Giggling, Rainbow Dash skipped away as the others laughed. After a short moment, Rarity joined in, despite her embarrassment.

As Pinkie Pie, still laughing, took the lead, Twilight stuck close to her friend's side. Although she could hear the Earth pony's heavy breathing, Pinkie Pie maintained the same determined expression she had entered the forest with.

Smiling, Twilight realized that this was precisely the kind of moment she had told Fluttershy about in the library. The fact that it was actually Pinkie Pie meant little to her, it was Fluttershy's meek and timid character that was overcoming her fear, and Twilight couldn't have felt more proud of her.

Dark and foreboding, the deep stillness of the forest was unsettling, and at times it felt as if the trees were closing in around them. All six ponies walked as closely together as they could without bumping into one another, all of their eyes scanning the forest around them nervously.

Although Twilight entered the Everfree Forest often to buy her favorite tea from Zecora, a Zebra sage who lived within the forest, it still unnerved her to be here.

This forest didn't work like the rest of Equestria, it seemed to have its own rules. From time to time, Twilight would be sure that she felt something, a sort of ancient, primal energy that perhaps was the governing force here, but it slipped away every time she tried to focus on it, like an untightened saddle on a galloping pony. As talented as she was in the uses of the magical arts, Twilight was unable to understand the strange magic that seemed to flitter through the air, surrounding her and yet, remaining unseen.

Recalling her last experience with this presence, Twilight startled herself when she stepped on a twig that snapped in two. The others gasped in fright as well, but Pinkie Pie who had already been tense, gave a small shriek and dropped to the ground, covering her eyes with her hooves.

"Oh, come off of it!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "It was just a twig!"

"She was just startled," Twilight said in Pinkie Pie's defense. "We all were."

"I wasn't," Fluttershy grumbled as she took to the air and flew ahead.

Helping Pinkie Pie stand up, Rarity gave Twilight a puzzled look. "What was that about?"

"Probably just her nerves," Twilight lied. In truth, she believed that Fluttershy was trying to be overly brave in order to feel better about her insecurities, but Twilight was reluctant to share this with Rarity, as she feared it would break the promise she had made in the library.

Watching Fluttershy land several yards away and dig at the dirt with her hoof irritably, Pinkie Pie hung her head and continued forward.

"Don't you let Fluttershy bother ya none," Applejack said as she trotted alongside Pinkie Pie and matched her pace. "She doesn't mean it, not really. Neither one of ya ain't feelin' like your normal selves, and if the two of ya can't get along, it ain't either of your fault. Anyway, y'all will be put back right soon enough, once we find that tree."

"You're right," Pinkie Pie said with a small smile. "Thanks, Applejack."

Although she stood a little straighter, and held her head a little higher, Pinkie Pie avoided Fluttershy's gaze as they caught up with the agitated mare. Looking as though she regretted how she had acted, Fluttershy stepped aside to allow Pinkie Pie to pass, then quietly followed behind her.

Continuing deeper into the Everfree Forest, the six ponies traveled in complete silence.

Having awoken shortly after day break in order to get an early start on her morning chores, and then rushing off to help Cheerilee at the school, it wasn't long before Twilight began feeling the effects of fatigue. She also realized that she was starving, as her only meal had been the breakfast she had eaten before beginning her chores. Miserably, she trotted on, wanting nothing more than to find the Sleeping Weeping Willow and put an end to all of this before it got too late.

Before long, the ground to their left began to slope downward until it became a steep hill, and rounding a bend, they found a large mud puddle laying across their path. Without hesitation, Pinkie Pie trotted straight through, followed closely by the others.

Once across, Twilight turned to check on Rarity, who she knew usually avoided mud at all costs, and found her still standing on the other side of the puddle.

"Come on, Rarity," Twilight coaxed. "I know you hate getting your hooves messy, but it won't be for long. Before you know it, we'll be back in Ponyville and you'll be able to clean them."

Rarity stared at the mud with a deep frown. "Absolutely not. I, like any other sophisticated lady, do not muck around in...well...muck."

"You can do it," Rainbow Dash urged, hopping into the center of the mud puddle, and prancing around in a small circle. "You see, it isn't that bad."

Retreating from the splatters of mud that Rainbow Dash was creating, Rarity turned her head away from them, and closing her eyes, replied, "I will not trudge around in this filth like some common mule."

"Please, Rarity," Pinkie Pie pleaded softly. "Will you do it for your friends? For...me?"

Upon hearing Pinkie Pie's gentle, sweet tone, one of Rarity's eyes popped open and studied her for a moment. Lowering her head, she stepped to the edge of the mud puddle. "Oh, of course I would do it for you, darling," Rarity said affectionately. "After all, it is only some mud."

As Pinkie Pie grinned with pleasure, Rarity took a hesitant step into the mud, grimacing as her hoof sank into the cold muck. Once she had all four hooves in, she paused and shuddered visibly. Trotting through the puddle, she held her head straight up with her nose fully extended into the air, as if she were at risk of drowning.

Moving in this way, Rarity was unable to see that she was approaching the steep slope until the others shouted to her in warning. Spotting the slope before her, Rarity tried to stop too abruptly, and slipping in the mud, went over the edge and slid down on her rump. Just as she opened her mouth to cry out, a spider's web slapped her in the face, causing her to sputter and brush at it frantically as she slid onto a patch of sand, and immediately began sinking.

Up to her forelegs in quicksand, Rarity looked at her friends above. "Oh, now this is just simply dreadful! Can you imagine how matted down and tangled this sand is going to make my coat? Not to mention-"

"Hold on, Rarity, I'm a comin'!" Applejack yelled, sliding expertly down the slope. Coming to a halt beside the quicksand, Applejack quickly jumped up and catching a branch in her mouth, snapped it off with a powerful twist of her neck. "Grab hold, and I'll pull ya to safety."

Once Rarity got a tight grip on the branch, Applejack pulled her from the quicksand and helped her up.

"Ugh, what revolting glop," Rarity complained as she shook a clump of sand and mud from her hoof. Glancing up at Applejack, she added, "Oh, uh, thanks, Applejack."

Applejack sighed. "C'mon, let's get ya back up this hill."

Staying directly behind her, Applejack helped Rarity up the slope. As they neared the top, Twilight and Rainbow Dash gripped Rarity's hooves and together pulled her back up.

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie lunged forward and embraced Rarity. "Oh Rarity!" she cried. "I was so worried!"

Freeing herself from Pinkie Pie's grip, Rarity moaned. "Yes, but, would you look at me? I have twigs and leaves in my mane, I'll have to style it all over again, and I'll have to wash my tail! Do you know how long it takes to get these tight little curls just right? And my hooves-"

"Land sakes!" Applejack exclaimed to Twilight with a grimace. "What with all of her apparent sufferin' and all, it might have been more kindly for us to have let her sink."

Unable to help herself, Twilight giggled at Applejack's remark, but was soon startled by a scream. Turning, Twilight saw a spider dangling from Rarity's mane, swinging back and forth in front of her sapphire eyes.

"Get it off me, get it off me!" Rarity cried, trotting in place anxiously.

Horn glowing magenta, Twilight plucked the spider from Rarity's mane by its legs and sat it gently on the ground, where it quickly scurried away.

"Yuck," Rarity shivered. "It still feels like it's crawling around on me, are you sure there was just one?"

"Seriously, Rarity," Fluttershy snapped, obviously fed up with the Unicorn's fussing. "Enough already! What's a bug gonna do to you anyway?"

Turning to Fluttershy and sticking her nose into the air, Rarity said, "No bug has any business being in the mane of anypony that is as well-groomed and fabulous as I. Besides, its unsanitary, who knows what the little heathen was doing in there?"

"Oh, that's all?" Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow. "You weren't scared?"

Flipping her mane, Rarity replied, "Scared? Of course not. I was...concerned that it might get lost in my mane. Could you imagine my shame if I were talking to somepony in town and a spider just popped out of my mane? Why, something like that could ruin my reputation as a sophisticated lady, or even my career."

"I don't believe you. I think you were scared," Fluttershy stated with a smirk. "Scared. Of a tiny, harmless bug."

Glaring at the Pegasus, Rarity retorted, "I don't care what you think. You may be my friend, but that doesn't mean that I need to impress you with my bravery or any such nonsense. Now, if you'll excuse me..." Rarity strutted past Fluttershy, head held high and refusing to meet her gaze.

Studying Fluttershy as she angrily kicked a rock, Twilight wondered what was happening to her friend. Pinkie Pie was acting just as Fluttershy would, and Rainbow Dash was acting just as Pinkie Pie would, but Fluttershy wasn't acting like her old self or Rainbow Dash. It was as if she were becoming somepony else altogether, somepony that Twilight already wasn't very fond of.

The six friends pressed on, but after only a couple of minutes, Pinkie Pie came to a slow halt. Pointing with a hoof, she told them, "That's the log that Fluttershy jumped over right before she crashed into me." Turning to the steep slope to their left, she continued, "And that's where we fell."

While Rarity and Pinkie Pie began to descend the slope with the help of Twilight and Applejack, Fluttershy swooped down to the bottom and sat, watching them impatiently. Near the bottom, Rarity slipped and slid the remainder of the way, and once Applejack had helped her to her hooves, they all turned and looked up at Rainbow Dash expectantly. Seeing that the slope was clear, Rainbow Dash dove onto the hill and slid down on her back, giggling the entire way down.

Standing up and grinning broadly, she exclaimed, "That was fun!"

Turning to Pinkie Pie, Twilight found her sitting on the ground, trembling with her ears laid flat and her eyes wide, staring into the brush ahead of them. As Twilight moved to stand beside her, Pinkie Pie said, "The tree is right through those bushes, but...do I have to go?"

"Yes Pinkie, we all do," Twilight answered gently. She then addressed the others. "All right, girls, the Sleeping Weeping Willow is on the other side of these bushes. Now, everypony remember to avoid looking at its eyes at all costs." Once the other five had all nodded their understanding, she concluded, "Let's go."

Trampling through the brush, Twilight immediately saw the enormous tree and the unmistakable face on its trunk, just as her book had described.

Twilight marveled at the amount of space under its drooping branches. If the Golden Oaks Library were under its spanning reach, and she were standing at the observation balcony at its top, she wouldn't even reach halfway up the tree. Heck, the entire Town Square, complete with the Town Hall, could easily fit under here.

After a moment in which the ponies studied the massive tree with wonder, Twilight approached the face on its trunk uncertainly. "Um, excuse me. We would like to speak with you for a moment." When the eyes remained closed, she continued, "Hello, could you wake up? We really need your help."

"Leave this to me," Fluttershy said, then she shot into the air and dove straight for the trunk. Just before colliding with the tree, Fluttershy quickly flipped and kicked the trunk solidly with both rear legs.

As Fluttershy landed next to Twilight, the Sleeping Weeping Willow's eyes suddenly popped open, causing all six friends to gasp and quickly look elsewhere.

"Sorry to have woken you so rudely," Twilight apologized, staring at her hooves. "But we really need to talk to you. You see-"

"Oh, why must everything that comes by here wake me up?" the Sleeping Weeping Willow asked in a surprisingly high pitched voice. "All I want to do is sleep. Is that really too much to ask?"

"No, of course not," Twilight hastily replied. "But, you see, my friends were here earlier and they accidently woke you up, and you cast a spell on them that changed them."

"Ah, I get it. You think the big nasty tree purposefully hurt your friends, is that it?" the willow asked in the voice that belied its massive size.

"Well, uh..." Twilight hesitated, unsure what to say. "We were just hoping that you could remove the spell, or at least tell us what the spell is so I can come up with a counter spell."

With a huge sigh that blew her mane away from her face, the tree exclaimed, "It's always the same! Every time somepony comes by and gets hypnotized by my beautiful eyes they come here blaming me!" Suddenly, Twilight realized why the willow's voice was so high pitched despite its size. It was whining. "It's just not fair! I don't mean for these things to happen, it's just the effect I have on other creatures! It's not my fault!"

Twilight and Applejack exchanged worried glances. If the tree was telling the truth, then it couldn't help them break the spell.

"What the hay do you mean it isn't your fault?!" Fluttershy demanded, eyes turned up to the branches above. "You did this to us, why can't you fix us?!"

"You think I want this to happen?" the Sleeping Weeping Willow whined. "You think I intentionally do this to ponies so that they can come back here and keep me awake by accusing me of things?"

Standing perfectly still with her eyes squeezed shut, Rarity was not paying much attention to the conversation. Recalling what Pinkie Pie had said about the tree's eyes, she longed for a look at them. She had made them sound so enticing! Having a deep love and appreciation of all things that were beautiful, Rarity could rarely resist temptation. Honestly, she thought to herself, what harm could come from just one quick glance?

Slowly opening one eye, Rarity was immediately lost in the deep pools of amber, and before she knew what had happened, she was asleep on the soft grass.

"Rarity!" Applejack cried, rushing over to her fallen friend. "Are you okay?" After spending a moment patting Rarity's cheek and gently shaking her, Applejack rounded on the tree. As soon as she caught sight of its amber gaze, she quickly closed her eyes and shouted, "What did you do to her?!"

"Oh, it's happened again!" the Sleeping Weeping Willow wailed. Feeling something splashing against her hooves, Twilight realized that the tree was crying. "It's just not fair! Now you'll never stop bothering me, and all I want to do is sleep! O, woe is me! O, woe is me!"

Looking extremely annoyed, Applejack said, "C'mon y'all, let's get outta here. This whining willow isn't gonna help us. It's more of a drama queen than Rarity."

Disheartened, the friends turned from the sobbing tree, and along with a floating Rarity that glowed with a magenta light, returned through the brush and climbed back up the slope.

Gently setting the Unicorn on the ground, Twilight sat down heavily as a worried Pinkie Pie lay her head on Rarity's chest while Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy all sat together on the log. All of them watched Rarity with a defeated silence, wondering how long it would take her to awaken.

Surprisingly, after only a few minutes, Rarity stirred and reached up to touch her mane. "All right, which one of you all did up my mane all fancy like while I was sleeping?" Glancing back at her tail, she added, "My tail too? How long did it take you all to get those curls just so?"

"Celestia's mane," Applejack said with horror. "She's got my personality now, don't she?"

A Noble Sacrifice

Chapter 6

A Noble Sacrifice

"No!" Twilight cried with despair as she looked at the dark stain on the wooden floor.

"Wait a minute," Applejack said, cocking an eyebrow as she poked at Rainbow Dash's tail. "Can that even be counted as a Pinkie Sense? Or did it just happen cause I pointed out the twitchy tail?" Scratching her head and taking a moment to contemplate this, Applejack threw her hat on the floor in frustration. "Ah, hayseed! This is startin' to get way too confusin'."

As soon as the hat hit the floor, Rarity scooped it up and placed it on her head. With a self-satisfied smile, she walked proudly to the other side of the room.

Staring at the spot on the floor where her hat had been sitting a second before, Applejack muttered, "I just can't wait for this day to end."

Twilight turned to Zecora hopefully. "You wouldn't have any more of the extract anywhere...would you?"

Zecora shook her head. "That was the last of my Sun Glow sprout. Now that you have dropped it, I am out."

Dismayed, Twilight dropped to the floor and covered her face with her hooves. She couldn't believe that she had lost focus on the spell. How could she have been so careless? Now, their last hope was soaking into the wooden floor.

"Get up, Twilight Sparkle. Your chances have not been blown," Zecora reassured her. "Your friends may still come through on their own."

Standing up, Twilight was unable to take comfort in Zecora's words as she glanced back up at Fluttershy.

While all the others had shown evidence of fighting for their true selves, apart from Rarity, who had only just been hypnotized an hour ago, Fluttershy hadn't shown any sign at all. More troubling still was the fact that she was no longer Rainbow Dash either, but a completely different pony altogether. A dark and brooding pony that was slowly growing more and more distant. Twilight feared that Fluttershy wasn't fighting at all, but was embracing her new self, and without the aid of the Sun Glow, they would never have their friend back.

Seeing the anxiety on Twilight's face, Zecora stated, "There is no need for sorrow, we could have more extract by midday tomorrow."

"Do ya really think that's necessary, Twi?" Applejack asked. "In all honesty, I think our friends will come back to us on their own. I have complete faith in our friendships."

Wordlessly, Twilight pointed at Fluttershy who, at that moment, was glaring at Pinkie Pie with a deep scowl. Upon seeing the seething Pegasus, Applejack's ears drooped sadly. "Oh, right. That."

"If we start now, we will be deep within the forest by nightfall," Zecora warned. "Or we can stay here until morning, it's your call."

The thought of spending the night inside the Everfree Forest terrified Twilight, but she didn't think waiting around was such a good idea. It seemed that, with every hour, Fluttershy drifted further away. They still had several hours of daylight left, she felt that they should try to reach the Sun Glow as quickly as possible. Besides, she didn't think that she would be able to stand sitting around until morning anyway.

"I think we should go now." Twilight decided. "I want to reach the Sun Glow as quickly as possible."

"You want to spend the night in the Everfree Forest?" Applejack asked worriedly.

"No." Twilight admitted. "But I want to be able to help Fluttershy before she is too far gone."

"Well then, in that case, I'm with ya," Applejack agreed.

"You can count me in too," Rarity added.

"I'm not afraid of anything in this forest, day or night. I'm totally in," Fluttershy declared.

Rainbow Dash came hopping toward them excitedly. "It's gonna be like a big slumber party, or like camping, or like a big ole camping slumber party of creepiness! Yay!"

Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie, who was alone on the other side of the room, hunkered down and shaking. "Pink?"

Trotting across the room, Applejack knelt down and held out her hoof. "We'll be right there with ya the whole way, sugar cube, y'all got nothin' to fear."

With a small, frightened smile, Pinkie Pie reached out and took Applejack's hoof. "Okay, I'm in."

"I too feel that it is better to act," Zecora agreed. "We will leave as soon as I'm packed."

Throwing a saddlebag over her back, Zecora quickly gathered a few bottles, a mortar and pestle, a small ball attached to a string, and a book, and then led them outside.

"We are headed for a valley to the northwest, but when darkness falls we will need somewhere to rest. We will reach the valley by midday for sure, and then I will be able to make your cure."

As the others began to follow Zecora, Twilight caught Fluttershy's eye and waved for her.

Sighing loudly, she trotted over and said rather unpleasantly, "What do you want?"

Immediately discouraged by Fluttershy's response to her, Twilight hesitated, but then remembered what Applejack had said earlier about being her friend and showing her nothing but love and support.

"You seem awfully angry. Is there something bothering you?" Twilight asked.

"What do you care?" Fluttershy snapped.

"Fluttershy, I'm worried about you. Look, I'm sorry about our last conversation. I didn't mean to say what I said, it just came out wrong. I don't think you're pretending to be brave, I know you're brave, you have Rainbow's personality. All I meant was that you don't have to worry about what we think of you, all five of us care very deeply for you."

Waiting a moment for Fluttershy to respond, but getting nothing more than a silent nod, Twilight continued. "I just want to know what's bothering you. I'm scared for you. With the way you've been attacking us all, I'm terrified that you're going to get too angry and just fly away, and we'll never see you again." Eyes unexpectedly brimming with tears, Twilight added, "I don't want to lose you, Fluttershy. Now that I've grown to know you, my life could never be the same without you."

Surprised by her confession, Fluttershy struggled for a moment to find the right words. Finally, she said, "I'm not going anywhere, Twilight. I promise. I'm sorry I made you worry so much, I had no idea you were this upset." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm mad because of Pinkie Pie."

Twilight blinked. "Huh?"

"You and Applejack keep going on about how great Fluttershy is, and how she'll conquer any fear. But ever since we left the library, all I've seen is a scaredy-pony who is only slowing us down. I wanted Pinkie to fail. To get too scared and give up, and prove that I'm the better Fluttershy, but she just won't. It doesn't matter how scared she gets, or even if I'm mean to her, she keeps going. And it's making me so mad."

Twilight smiled warmly. "I told you, she draws her strength from her friends. As long as we are right here with her, she'll never give up." She indicated Pinkie Pie, who was trotting between Rainbow Dash and Applejack, and grinning as they talked. "See, look how well she's doing, despite her fears. Why does that make you angry? Why can't you be proud of her? Of yourself? Can't you see that you were stronger than you thought? Can't you see that that is the better Fluttershy, the Fluttershy you always were, and the Fluttershy you need to be?"

"I-I, um, well," Fluttershy stammered.

Placing a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder, Twilight urged, "Please Fluttershy, try to fight the willow's hypnosis. This isn't the pony you're meant to be. Soon, Pinkie will be Pinkie again, and we will lose the old Fluttershy forever...and you'll be the only pony capable of bringing her back to us."

"But I don't want to be scared anymore. Not when I can be the pony I am now. I can fly high, and fast, and I feel like I can take on the whole world." Shaking her head, Fluttershy asked, "Why would I give that up?"

"I don't have an answer for that, Fluttershy." Lifting her hoof from her shoulder, Twilight placed it on Fluttershy's chest. "That answer can only be found here." Stepping forward, Twilight hugged her fiercely. "I love you, Fluttershy, please remember that. No matter what happens or what choice you make, I love you."

Clearly touched, Fluttershy squeezed her in return. "Thanks, Twilight. And I won't forget, I promise." Fluttershy embraced her for a moment longer, and then said, "C'mon now, you're starting to embarrass me."

Twilight released her. "We'd better catch up with the others before we get left behind."

"Me, fall behind? As if!" Fluttershy announced with a cocky grin. "Keep up if you can, Twilight!"

Leaping into the air, Fluttershy dashed toward their friends, and took her usual spot overhead. Twilight, galloping to quickly cover the lost ground, caught up with the others as Rainbow Dash took flight to join Fluttershy above them.

Completely upside down, Rainbow Dash, nearly nose to nose with her friend, asked, "I saw you were talking to Twilight, are you better now?" As Fluttershy gently pushed her further from her face, she continued. "I've noticed that you've been super duper extra super gloomy, but I thought that you would just get mad if I tried to cheer you up."

Upon hearing this, Fluttershy's face fell as her ears drooped regretfully. "I...I'm sorry that I made you feel that way, Rainbow. I guess I've been pretty mean to everypony today."

"Ah, don't worry about it." Rainbow Dash beamed, waving a hoof dismissively. "It could have happened to any of us. Especially on a day like today." After a couple of moments, she began blinking rapidly. "I'm getting a little dizzy."

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "That's because you're still upside down, Rainbow."

"Oh, yeah." Rainbow Dash giggled. "I forgot!"

As Rainbow Dash flipped herself right side up, she accidently collided with Fluttershy, causing them both to drop to the ground, narrowly missing a startled Rarity.

Stumbling backward, Rarity fell onto her rump, causing Applejack's hat, which had already been sitting precariously on her head, to tumble off and land at Applejack's hooves.

Quickly picking it up and placing it neatly on her head, Applejack sighed with content. "It sure is nice to have ya back," she said to her hat. But then she glimpsed the look of distress on Rarity's face at having lost the hat and felt a pang of remorse.

Standing before Rarity, Applejack reared up on her hind legs and gently lifted the hat from her head. Holding it with two hooves, Applejack stated, "This hat is very important to me. My Granny Smith gave it to me on the day that I came to realize that I was meant to spend my life workin' the farm. To me it represents, not only my destiny, but who I am, and it's gone everywhere that I have ever since then. Now, I understand that the willow has fuddled your head all up, and right now, this hat is important to you too. So..." Lifting the hat up, she placed it atop Rarity's head. "I want ya to keep it until you're feelin' better, I really do...and I'm awfully sorry that I kept takin' it from ya, it was a mite selfish of me."

"I don't know what to say," Rarity said, quietly. Then, "Oh, darling, this was simply the sweetest thing anypony has ever done for me! Thank you so much!"

Surprised by the sudden appearance of the real Rarity, Applejack said, "Rarity, are ya...you?"

Rarity cocked an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean, sugar cube?"

"Uh, nothin'...forget it." Applejack shook her head in confusion. "Anyway, just promise that y'all take real good care of it, and I promise that I won't mention it again. Deal?"

"Deal." Rarity agreed, spitting on her hoof and holding it out.

Unable to help herself, Twilight chuckled as Applejack spit on her own hoof and grasped Rarity's, remembering the first time the two had tried to strike a deal.

The two of them hadn't been too fond of each other, and they had been forced to take shelter in the library with Twilight to wait out a powerful storm. Realizing that this was the first time she had ever had friends stay for the night, Twilight had become extremely excited. Applejack and Rarity, who had been arguing on and off for most of the day, agreed to try to put their differences aside so that Twilight's first slumber party would be a success. When they had struck their agreement, Applejack had spit on her hoof to seal the deal, but Rarity had recoiled with disgust and called her rude. Despite this, and the fact that they had argued so much that they had nearly brought Twilight to tears, the sleep over had been a success. Both having learned a valuable lesson in friendship, Applejack and Rarity had left the library the next morning as friends.

"Wow, Applejack, that was very noble of you," Twilight praised as Rarity trotted away with a satisfied smile.

"Aw shucks, Twi, it was just the right thing to do," Applejack replied.

"Just because it was the right thing to do, does not mean that it was easier for you," Zecora told her. "If you continue with this kind of virtue, then your friendships will surely pull through."

Applejack flushed with embarrassment. "It ain't nothin' really. Rarity would have done the same for me."

Overjoyed with Applejack's kind offering and thrilled by Rarity's first sign of struggle against the willow's hypnosis, Twilight felt a sudden surge of affection for the two friends, and as her gaze swept over the others, her love extended to them as well.

Smiling broadly, Twilight marveled that she was lucky enough to have such great friends.

It struck her then that it had been a very long time since a thought like that had last occurred to her, and realized that she had become so used to having these wonderful friends that she had begun to take them for granted. If there was one thing that this situation had taught her, it was how important these five ponies were to her, and Twilight silently vowed to never take their friendships for granted again.

Although the Everfree Forest was always dark, the shadows deepened as the final hours of the day slowly rolled by. As the light faded, so too did the warmth of the day, leaving behind a chill in the air that sapped away their remaining energy.

Once it had become too dark for them to see, Twilight cast a light spell that caused her horn to shine just brightly enough for the seven friends to see each other. Gathered in a tight ring around Twilight, the party continued until they came to a small clearing.

"It would be wise to stop here for the night," Zecora announced. "Continuing in this dark would be a losing fight."

Closing her eyes in concentration, Twilight intensified her light spell and turned her horn toward the brush. Using the light, Applejack and Rarity gathered several large stones and a pile of sticks, and brought them to the center of the clearing. Making a ring of stones, Applejack quickly got a fire started, and sat back with a relieved sigh as the others closed in around it, relishing it's warmth.

With a huge yawn, Rarity said, "I'm as tired as a gopher in hard dirt."

"You said it, girl." Applejack agreed with a chuckle.

Standing up and looking at each one of them in turn, Twilight stated, "I know that ordinarily we would all sit around the fire and talk, but I really think it would be better if we tried to get some sleep. We've got a busy day ahead of us, and I want to continue as soon as it is light enough to see."

As the others all voiced their agreement and began to make themselves comfortable around the warm flame, Applejack moved closer to Twilight. "Since this is the Everfree Forest and all, and nopony knows just what all is out there, I think it would be a good idea if one of us stays awake and keeps watch. Now, our friends need their rest so they will have the energy to keep up their fights and come back to us, so we should split the night between the two of us. I'll go first and in a couple of hours, I'll wake ya for your watch."

Twilight nodded. "That sounds like a good plan to me." Turning, she found Zecora directly behind her.

"I wish to have a turn as well," Zecora insisted. "For all of you are exhausted, I can tell."

"That's mighty generous of ya," Applejack commended.

"Your watch can be after mine," Twilight agreed.

Content with the plan, Zecora returned to her spot on the other side of the fire while Twilight found a place beside Pinkie Pie. Lying down and smiling reassuringly at the Earth pony, Twilight watched as Applejack trotted to the edge of the firelight and sat, all but disappearing in the shadows.

Even though she had always been uneasy in this forest, Twilight didn't feel even a little threatened by the night. All that could be heard beyond the comforting crackle of the fire was the relaxing chorus of insects that seemed to be slowly coaxing them all to sleep.

Without warning, an owl perched on a nearby tree hooted, and Twilight heard Pinkie Pie's sharp intake of breath. "You okay, Pinkie?" she asked.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," Pinkie Pie answered very unconvincingly.

Lying there and watching as Pinkie Pie tried to be brave, Twilight felt a sudden stab of heartache for the poor Earth pony. Here was her friend that always pranced around town with a smile on her face, who laughed at her fears, curled in a tight little ball, trembling, and trying to convince her that she was fine.

At that moment, Twilight wanted nothing more than to be able to take all of Pinkie Pie's fears away.

Scooting closer and stroking her curly mane with her hoof, Twilight soothed her frightened friend. "I know your fine. You've been very brave today, considering all that's happened, and we're all very proud of you."

"Really?" Pinkie Pie asked self-consciously with wide eyes.

Smiling at Pinkie Pie's surprise, Twilight confirmed. "Really."

Pinkie Pie raised her head with a self-satisfied grin as ears perked up. "Thanks, Twilight. You, all of you, are the best friends anypony could ever have."

She nuzzled Pinkie Pie affectionately. "Now, try to get some sleep. Applejack is staying up to watch for any sign of danger, then after a couple of hours she will wake me, and then I'll wake Zecora after that. All night long, one of us three will be awake to watch over you. So sleep well."

Reassured, Pinkie Pie lay down her head, closed her eyes, and within a minute she was snoring softly.

Sitting up, Twilight scanned their little campsite and found that the others were all asleep. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were both sprawled out on their backs, legs thrust out every which way. On Twilight's other side was Rarity, lying on her side, her legs tucked in closely to her body and Applejack's hat nestled protectively behind her.

Only Zecora was awake, and as if she were reading Twilight's mind, said, "You go have your talk with Applejack. I will stay awake until you come back."

Making her way over to Applejack, Twilight sat beside her friend and together they stared into the shadows in silence.

After several long moments of this, Applejack finally asked, "Why are you still awake, Twilight?"

"I just wanted to check on you," Twilight replied.

Applejack snorted with amusement. "You're worried about me, ain't ya?"

"Yeah, kind of," admitted Twilight.

"Ya worry too much, sugar cube. I'm doin' just fine, considerin'. It's you I'm not so sure about."

"How so?"

"Well, first off, ya won't quit worryin' bout everypony else long enough to worry bout yourself. Secondly," Applejack gave her a stern look, "I know that you are plum tuckered out, and need to get some sleep! And lastly, I can tell ya have a nasty headache."

Twilight smiled despite the pain. "I can't get anything past you, can I?"

With a quick shake of her head that caused her tied back mane to whip around, Applejack replied, "Nope."

"Yeah, the headache started when I cast the light spell, just too much magic in one day, I guess. It's not the first time, and it usually goes away once I've had some sleep."

"So, go. Get. Some. Sleep." Applejack punctuated each word with a gentle jab of her hoof into Twilight's chest. When she still hesitated, Applejack smiled warmly. "Ya got nothin' to worry bout here, Twi. I'm fit as a fiddle. I ain't upset or sad bout nothin'. I know that our friends are in good hooves with Zecora. And I got no inkling to start actin' like somepony else, so just worry bout yourself for this once and get some sleep so you can feel better."

"All right A.J., you win." Twilight gave in. "But, if there was something bothering you, you would tell me...right?"

"Of course," Applejack assured her. "In fact, I wish I could just make up somethin' that's botherin' me so ya could comfort me and feel better, but..." Applejack gave her a sheepish grin. "Well, ya know how bad I am at bein' dishonest."

Remembering Applejack's almost too painful to watch attempt to lie to Pinkie Pie in order to keep her away from her own surprise party, Twilight laughed. "Yeah, you are a horrible liar." Standing up, she added, "Well, see you in a few hours then."

"Eeyup," Applejack said in a near perfect echo of her older brother as she turned back to the shadows.

Frowning, Twilight made her way back to the fire. By the time she had returned to her spot beside the slumbering Pinkie Pie, she had dismissed Applejack's simple, one-worded reply, figuring that she was probably tired and hadn't meant to be short.

Lying down, she noticed Zecora watching her. "You wanted to stop your worries but didn't know how, now that you've spoken with your friend, rest will your mind allow?"

"I think so," Twilight replied, closing her eyes and rubbing her temple. "But I'm not so sure about this headache."

Zecora pointed a hoof at something behind her. "See that flower with the yellow petal, chew it up and the pain will settle."

Locating the flower only a few feet away, Twilight bent over and pulled the plant up with her teeth. Gagging from the bitter taste, she chewed and swallowed as quickly as she could. She grimaced at the aftertaste, but almost immediately, the pain in her head began to lessen.

"Thanks, Zecora, it's already starting to help," Twilight told her.

"Good, my dear, I am glad. Now sleep before your friend gets mad," Zecora replied, indicating Applejack who had turned and was watching them.

Lying on the soft grass as the fire's warmth spread throughout her body, Twilight slipped into an uneasy sleep.

Without warning, the campfire suddenly went out and Twilight found herself in complete darkness.

The Return of Laughter

Chapter 7

The Return of Laughter

Frightened, she called out to her friends, but heard nothing beyond the unnatural silence that had fallen over the forest.

Unable to see more than a few steps ahead of her, Twilight frantically searched for the others. It wasn't long before she began to hear their voices, but no matter how hard she tried to concentrate on them, she couldn't make out what they were saying.

Rushing along, Twilight was startled by the sudden appearance of Rainbow Dash just ahead of her, performing a random dance. "Oh, thank Celestia I found you." Twilight began, relieved. "I was so scared that..." She trailed off as Rainbow Dash simply faded from view.

Turning in a tight circle, Twilight caught several glimpses of her friends. There was Pinkie Pie, cowering on the ground, and Rarity, rearing up on her hind legs and swinging a lasso over her head. Each was visible for only a moment before they disappeared once more into the surrounding darkness as if they were nothing more than spirits drifting in and out of reality.

Without warning, Twilight found Fluttershy hovering in the air, her face a mask of rage. "I am so sick of all you losers!" she yelled. "I'm outta here!"

As she took to the air and flew away, Twilight desperately chased after her. "No, Fluttershy, don't leave. I'm sorry I let you down, but please don't leave."

All at once, a bright light lit the area around her, causing her to skid to a halt and cover her eyes. Slowly opening them, Twilight found herself standing in the center of a grassy field, the light emitting from the full moon directly above her.

Knowing that the full moon was still a week and a half away, Twilight stared at its silver surface in confusion until a voice interrupted her. "Greetings, Twilight Sparkle."

Crying out in alarm, Twilight spun to find Princess Luna standing behind her. An Alicorn with a dark blue coat, a mane and tail the color of a well lit night sky, complete with sparkles that resembled stars, and a crown that was as black as a moonless night resting behind her horn, the princess looked upon Twilight fondly.

Although they had once been enemies, Twilight found comfort in the princess's company.

One thousand years ago, Princess Luna surrendered to the darkness in her heart, and had become Nightmare Moon. Unable to reason with her, Princess Celestia had been forced to banish her younger sister to the moon.

Just a few years ago, however, Nightmare Moon finally escaped and had reappeared in Ponyville on the night of the Summer Sun Celebration. After imprisoning Princess Celestia, she had then threatened all of Equestria with an eternal night.

Twilight, having only arrived in Ponyville the previous day, had attempted to stand alone against her, but Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, all of whom she had only just met, had insisted on coming with her. The six of them entered the Everfree Forest and recovered the lost Elements of Harmony, and together, succeeded in harnessing their power.

Overwhelmed by the Elements of Harmony, Nightmare Moon had vanished in a brilliant flash of light, leaving a defeated Princess Luna in her place. Freed of her hatred and jealousy, Princess Luna was finally able to see the error of her ways, and after asking for and receiving forgiveness from Princess Celestia, returned to her rightful place in Canterlot by her sister's side. Now, she was known as the princess of the night, and was loved and respected by all of Equestria.

As a result, both Princess Luna and Twilight held each other in high regard, for both knew that they would not have what they did today if it hadn't been for the other.

"Princess Luna!" Twilight exclaimed, surprised by the princess's sudden appearance. "What's going on? Why are you here?"

With a warm smile, Princess Luna explained, "When you sleep, your mind escapes from the binds that tie it to your physical form. All of your hopes, dreams, and fears rise into the night. As princess of the night, it is my duty to watch over these energies, to direct and correct them as needed. Harmony of the night is just as important as harmony of the day, you see."

"So...I'm dreaming?" Twilight asked.

Princess Luna nodded. "I felt a great disturbance in the night, a desperate helplessness that came from this part of Equestria. Imagine my surprise, Twilight Sparkle, when I discovered that its source was you."

Relieved that this was all a dream, and that she hadn't just lost Fluttershy after all, Twilight confessed, "I'm worried for my friends. Nothing I can do will help them, and I don't know w-"

Princess Luna held up a hoof to silence her. "It is not my place to ask what has happened, or to help you with your problems, but I am always willing to offer guidance."

Spreading her wings and taking flight, the moonlight glinting off of the crescent moon on her flank as she slowly circled above, the princess remarked, "You never give up, Twilight, and you always find a way to overcome any obstacle that you face. While this trait is commendable, it is only making your current situation worse."

Twilight frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Sometimes you cannot overcome a problem no matter how hard you try. Sometimes you must sit back and let somepony else solve it, and sometimes the only solution is time."

Unable to believe what she was hearing, Twilight demanded, "What? You want me to stop trying? To just give up? These are my friends, Princess, how can I just quit on them?"

Landing directly in front of Twilight and looking her sternly in the eye, Princess Luna said, "I understand how difficult this must be for you. Stepping back and letting your friends deal with their own problems is simply not in your blood, but it is the only answer." When it seemed that Twilight was about to argue, the princess quickly continued. "Just look at my sister, how many times has she stepped back and allowed you to face some of Equestria's greatest trials? You have no idea how many problems she is merely observing and allowing time to remedy. If she were to try to face them all, as you do, she would end up feeling the way you do now, small and helpless. How efficient of a ruler do you think she would be if she never stopped fretting over every problem in Equestria?"

"I...well..." Twilight had no idea what to say, she had never seen Princess Celestia in this light before. She had always believed that Princess Celestia could face any obstacle, prevail over any threat. It had never occurred to her that the princess could become overwhelmed. Somehow, Twilight took comfort in the knowledge that even Princess Celestia couldn't solve every problem.

"You and Celestia share many traits, Twilight, so maybe it is time that you begin to learn some of her lessons. Stop trying to solve this current issue and let it play itself out."

"But-"

"And there may come a time when you, like my sister, must step back and allow another to fight this battle. If this time comes, you must be able to restrain yourself, or all hope could be lost."

"I understand, Princess," Twilight relented. "I'll try to follow your advice and allow my friends to fight this on their own."

Princess Luna smiled. "I am glad. This helplessness is very unbecoming of you."

With a small laugh, Twilight curtsied. "Thank you for your advice, Princess Luna."

"It was my pleasure, Twilight Sparkle. Now..." Suddenly Princess Luna and Applejack said in unison. "Wake up, Twilight."

Eyes flying open, Twilight found herself lying beside Pinkie Pie as Applejack gave her another small shake. "Land sakes, girl, you were in one deep sleep. For a moment there I thought I was gonna have to get Pinkie's party cannon to wake ya." She paused for a long yawn. "Anyway, it's your watch now. I'm beat."

Getting up, Twilight's gaze fell on Zecora, who was lying on her stomach with her legs tucked under her and her head held high on a fully extended neck. She would have thought that the Zebra was only meditating, except for her snoring. Amused, Twilight turned to Applejack, but found her already fast asleep next to Pinkie Pie.

"Wow," Twilight mumbled to herself. "She really was beat."

As she turned away from the campfire, Twilight's eyes fell on a fresh pile of wood several feet away, and mused that Applejack must have gathered it before waking her. Watching the easy breathing of her friend, Twilight said a silent thank you to the slumbering Earth pony before making her way toward the edge of the firelight.

Alert for any sound in the near perfect stillness that would warn of approaching danger, Twilight sat down and gazed out at the deep shadows. After several moments, her thoughts drifted to her dream, and her conversation with Princess Luna.

She understood now that she couldn't worry about her friends any longer. Although she had thought that it would be difficult to simply wait for them to come back on their own, she slowly began to believe that allowing them to overcome this themselves was the best course of action as she recounted all that she had learned.

Her friends weren't under a spell, as she had feared. They were simply the victims of the willow's hypnosis, a mind trick that her friends had already been fighting for nearly a full day. With the exception of Fluttershy, they had all shown signs of their struggle, and Twilight harbored no doubt that they would eventually beat it. As for Fluttershy, although she was going to need quite a bit of convincing to return to her true self, Twilight felt that they had made some real progress with their last conversation. For the first time since she had seen Pinkie Pie squashed under Rarity's bed, Twilight truly felt confident that everything would turn out fine.

Realizing this, Twilight felt as if a great burden had been lifted from her chest, and she suddenly seemed able to breathe easier. It also helped that she was thrilled to have learned that she shared some traits with Princess Celestia.

Standing watch with these cheerful thoughts filling her mind, and occasionally adding fresh wood to the fire, Twilight didn't realize that something was wrong until the first rays of light crept into their little clearing.

At first stunned by the morning light, as she had only been standing watch for about two hours, Twilight quickly comprehended what was happening.

Applejack had known about her headache and that she had been exhausted, and had stayed awake nearly the entire night so that she could rest. Thinking back on Applejack's lecture on how she should worry about herself and get some sleep, and Applejack's one worded reply when Twilight had stated that she would see her in a few hours, Twilight realized that Applejack had lied.

Rounding on her friend and watching her sleep peacefully for a few moments, Twilight tried to feel angry but failed miserably. Unable to help herself, she started to laugh as she realized that Applejack, Equestria's worst liar, had fooled her.

Honestly. Twilight thought to herself as she shook her head with amusement. You underestimate that pony for one instant, and she'll surprise you.

Making her way around the campfire, Twilight began waking up the others, but purposefully skipped over Applejack.

Upon seeing the morning light, Zecora asked with an unhappy tone, "Did you think my turn I would botch? Is this why you did not wake me for my watch?"

Managing to at least sound a little annoyed, Twilight indicated Applejack. "Why don't you ask that stubborn mule over there? She stayed up almost the entire night before waking me."

Gazing at Applejack's slumbering form, Zecora advised, "Do not be angry with the sacrifice she made, these are the things that prove your friendship will never fade."

Twilight nodded her agreement. "I know. I'm not angry...not really."

Smiling, Zecora made her way to the edge of the clearing. "Good, now wait here and I will find some food before all of us fall into a foul mood."

Turning away from Zecora, Twilight spotted Pinkie Pie about to awaken Applejack. "No, Pinkie, let her sleep a while longer. She's going to need it."

Pinkie Pie quickly shied away from Applejack. "Oh, I'm sorry...I just saw that she was asleep and thought I should wake her."

"Don't you fret it none, sugar cube," Rarity told her as she placed her hat awkwardly atop her head. "Twilight just wants to make sure she gets her sleep is all."

Glancing over at the other two, Twilight found that Fluttershy had already taken to the air, and was flying in circles overhead while Rainbow Dash skipped around the clearing and sniffed flowers.

Beginning to feel overwhelmed as she watched her friends act like one another, Twilight suddenly recalled Princess Luna's advice. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she reminded herself that her friends had to fight this themselves, and all she could do was to wait and be supportive.

As Twilight was calming herself with this mental exercise, Zecora returned and removed what appeared to be six large wooden lumps from her saddlebag. "I have found for us some Tender Root, it will give us energy and is nutritious to boot."

Twilight stared at the brown lumpy form on the ground before her, wondering how such a thing could possibly be edible. Bending over, she attempted to bite off a piece and found it to be nearly as hard as wood. Dry, tough, and lacking flavor, Twilight found it difficult to swallow the first bite, and even more so to find the will to take a second.

Noticing the expressions on all their faces, Zecora said defensively, "I know it may taste like dragon's feet, but at least it is something to eat."

Gagging after swallowing the second bite, Twilight inquired, "Why in the name of Celestia is it called Tender Root?"

Zecora shrugged. "Life is full of such irony, haven't you noticed my dear pony?"

Silently, the five friends struggled to eat the Tender Root as quickly as possible. It was a task that proved more laborious than expected.

Gazing at the final bite, Twilight longed to kick it into the brush but knew that she would need all of her energy and strength later. As she began to chew, she gave Pinkie Pie a slight nod and watched her gently shake Applejack awake.

With an enormous yawn, Applejack rolled onto her back and stretched before reaching blindly behind her. As her hoof found only grass, Applejack frowned as she stood and turned in a tight little circle. "Where's my hat?" she asked with confusion. Then, spotting it atop Rarity's head, her face fell. "Oh...right. I forgot."

Dropping the sixth piece of Tender Root at Applejack's feet, Pinkie Pie said, "Good morning, Applejack, Zecora found us some breakfast. It's not very good, but she says it will give us energy so I think you should eat it..." Suddenly looking very unsure of herself, Pinkie Pie added meekly, "I mean, if you want to...but if you don't want to that would be fine too..."

"Thank ya, Pinkie, I'm starvin'," Applejack said gratefully as she eagerly stuffed the entire root into her mouth. Almost immediately, she gagged on the unexpectedly awful taste, but managed to continue chewing with only a slight grimace. Once she had swallowed the last of it, Applejack forced a smile for Zecora. "Thank ya for finding this here...food, Zecora."

Once everypony was ready to continue, Zecora led them a short distance to a nearby stream. The water was clear, cool, and refreshing, and as Twilight drank her fill, she watched a bleary eyed Applejack do the same.

Just as she was finishing, a rock under Applejack's hoof shifted, sending her face first into the stream. Sputtering, she stood back up and began to spit out several small rocks, which led to a sudden outburst of laughter from Fluttershy.

Catching the angry look Applejack was throwing at the amused Pegasus, Twilight quickly said, "She doesn't mean anything by it, Applejack. You know how Rainbow can be."

"I know how Rainbow can be all right," Applejack replied as she continued to glare at Fluttershy. "But I ain't too sure bout that one anymore."

Turning to Twilight, Applejack's features softened. "How's that headache?"

"Completely gone," Twilight answered, then gave Applejack a stern look. "I really wish that you hadn't lied to me."

Applejack's eyes lowered to the ground as her ears drooped. "It wasn't really a lie..." Then she looked at Twilight uncertainly. "But I was dishonest, and I'm awfully sorry for it. I knew that the girls needed ya to be in tip top shape more than they needed me, and I knew that you would never agree to lettin' me have a longer watch so ya could get more rest for yourself, so I just didn't wake ya till later. Can ya ever forgive me?"

"Of course I forgive you." Twilight smiled amiably. "I'm just worried that you didn't get enough rest. We've got a long day ahead of us."

"Don't ya worry your pretty lil' head bout me none. I feel as fresh and ready to go as a barrel of my apples in the marketplace," Applejack insisted, although the puffiness around her eyes told quite a different tale. "Besides, I been without sleep much longer than just one night, remember? I made it fine back then, and I'll be fine now."

Twilight did remember and that was what had her so worried. Then again, the last time Applejack had suffered from a lack of sleep, she had gone a full week before things had begun to turn sour, so maybe she was worrying a little too much.

"Just please try not to overdo it," Twilight relented.

Following Zecora's lead, the six ponies continued their trek through the Everfree Forest. As she trotted along, Twilight constantly stole glances at Applejack, and noticed that her lack of sleep seemed to be slowly wearing her down as the day pressed on.

Several hours into their journey, Twilight called back to be sure that she was still doing okay, and as Applejack was assuring her that she was fine, she reached up to tip her hat. Upon realizing that she was not wearing it, a dark shadow seemed to spread over her face, and she turned her head toward the ground, mumbling something under her breath.

Having seen Applejack's reaction to her missing hat, Pinkie Pie slowly approached Twilight.

"Twilight, what's wrong with Applejack?"

"She was worried about me and stayed up too late so that I could rest," Twilight explained. "Then she slipped and fell into that stream." Seeing the anxiety etched on Pinkie Pie's face, she smiled. "She's just grumpy and having a bad day, that's all. She'll be fine in a little while."

Pinkie Pie watched Applejack for a long moment, then asked, "Do you think she's upset about not having her hat?"

"Yeah," Twilight admitted. "I think that may have a lot to do with it, actually."

As they watched, Applejack, staring longingly at her hat as it bounced on Rarity's head, kicked an exposed root and stumbled. "Goll-darn it!" she exclaimed as she limped for a moment before gingerly putting her weight on the injured hoof once again. "I didn't even see that consarned root! What in the hay is it doin' out in the middle of everythin' anyway?"

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie dropped back and matched Applejack's stride. Studying her frowning friend uneasily, Pinkie Pie appeared to be struggling with some sort of internal decision.

Cocking her eyebrow, Applejack asked sharply, "What?"

Suddenly looking frightened, Pinkie Pie lowered her head and turned her eyes to the ground. "I-I just wanted to ask you a question. If you don't mind, that is."

Immediately, Applejack's scowl melted away. "I'm sorry, Pinkie, I didn't mean to snap at ya. You go right on ahead and ask me anything ya want."

With a quiet, nervous voice, Pinkie Pie asked, "What did the elderly stallion say when his pet dog fell off the cliff?"

"Oh my!" Applejack exclaimed, surprised by the question. "Uh, well...I don't rightly know what anypony would say if their dog fell off a cliff."

"Doggone," Pinkie Pie answered with a shy smile.

It took Applejack a moment to realize that Pinkie Pie had just told a joke, then she began to chuckle. "Hehe, doggone, cause the dog is gone. I like that one, it's funny."

Beaming as she observed the smile that spread across Applejack's face, Pinkie Pie straightened her back, held her head high, and began to prance away, but then suddenly stopped. As if she had just realized that they were still within the Everfree Forest, Pinkie Pie's features turned from happy to scared as her ears drooped and she pressed nearer to Applejack.

Knowing that Pinkie Pie had just gone back to being Fluttershy, Twilight turned away with a smile. Pinkie Pie had understood how upset Applejack was about her hat, and her concern for her friend had reached deep within to touch her love of creating fun and laughter. This had allowed her true self to surface just enough to overcome Fluttershy's timid nature and tell a joke.

Although this glimpse of the real Pinkie Pie had only lasted a moment, it sent Twilight's spirits soaring. The unexpected joke proved to Twilight without a doubt that Pinkie Pie was fighting the hypnosis, and she couldn't have been more proud of her friend than she was right then.

"Twilight! Something's wrong with Pinkie! " Applejack called, sounding scared. Quickly turning around, she found Applejack standing beside Pinkie Pie, who was on the ground covering her face with her hooves. Placing a hoof on Pinkie Pie's back and gently rubbing, Applejack said soothingly, "Don't ya worry, sugar c-"

Without warning, Pinkie Pie jumped up, knocking Applejack onto her rump. "I'm not scared!" Rounding on the dark, imposing trees that stood to their left, she yelled, "I'M NOT SCARED!" Facing the trees to their right, she cried, "My Granny Pie taught me to laugh at my fears! So, ha ha ha!"

Trotting in a small circle, she continued to speak her fake laugh, until she began to giggle. Then, with a snort, she fell onto her back and laughed, causing her curly mane to bounce wildly.

Concerned, Twilight slowly advanced toward her laughing friend. "Pinkie?"

Sitting up with an enormous smile, Pinkie Pie exclaimed, "Can you believe how scared I was?!" She began giggling uncontrollably. "I mean, me, scared of my own shadow. How silly is that?"

"Pinkie?" Twilight asked hesitantly. "Are...are you...you?"

With an exceptionally loud gasp, Pinkie Pie cried, "I am! I'm me again!" Standing on her two hind legs, she began to jump up and down. "I'm me, I'm me, I'm me!"

Rushing to her side, Rainbow Dash began jumping on her hind legs as well. "You're you, You're you, You're you!" Gripping each other's hooves, they continued jumping in circles, until they both fell, and began to roll together on the ground laughing.

The laughter was infectious, and soon the others joined in. While Zecora stood back and watched with a pleasant smile, the others gathered around Pinkie Pie, and gave her a great group hug as she sat back up.

Unable to help it, Twilight began to cry as relief flooded through her. Her tears, like the laughter, became infectious and soon there wasn't a dry eye among the best friends.

"You did it, Pinkie," Twilight happily stated. "You fought and you won. Not only that, you've proved to the others that it can be done." Looking at Rainbow Dash, and then Rarity, she added, "You hear that, girls? Keep fighting, and you'll win just like Pinkie did."

Seeing all the smiling faces around her, Pinkie Pie's eyes grew watery once again. "Thanks, girls. It's really great to be back."

As Pinkie Pie stood up, the leaves that had gotten stuck in her mane as she rolled on the ground suddenly began floating away on their own, glowing with a faint blue light. Turning, they found Rarity concentrating as she removed all the debris.

Noticing them watching her, she cocked an eyebrow. "What in tarnation are you all looking at?" The confused expression on her face caused the others to begin laughing once again.

Realizing that Fluttershy was no longer among them, Twilight's laughter died away as she glanced up. Hovering above them, Fluttershy looked furious, and noticing Twilight was watching her, she quickly turned away. Zecora, who had been watching her as well, turned to Twilight with a look of sympathy.

"I am very concerned for Fluttershy. For her, it will not be as easy as Pinkie Pie," Zecora stated quietly as Twilight approached.

"I know, but I don't know what to do," Twilight replied worriedly.

"Neither do I, but her side you must continue to stand by." Zecora glanced back up at Fluttershy. "For the extract of the Sun Glow's sprout to work in the end, she must want it in her heart. You must prove that she is a valued friend, or you will grow further apart."

Before Twilight could respond, a foul scent suddenly swept over them, causing the six friends to choke on the unexpected stench. As they coughed, a series of menacing growls arose from the way they had come. With a collective gasp, they all turned and gazed uneasily into the trees.

Frightened, Twilight turned to her friends and saw her fear reflected on their faces. Even Fluttershy, hovering above, seemed unnerved.

They all knew this scent, and they all knew what was keeping just out of sight.

Timberwolves.

Fight or Flight

Chapter 8

Fight or Flight

"Quickly ponies, come stand behind me," Zecora instructed. "I have just the thing to make these Timberwolves flee." As the six friends hurriedly moved behind her, Zecora reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a small ornamental ball attached to a string. "Timberwolves hate how this smells. It will keep them away, it never fails."

Just as Zecora had finished speaking, a group of Timberwolves emerged from the trees.

As mysterious as they were dangerous, Timberwolves were nearly twice as large as an average pony. They had bright yellow eyes that glowed even in direct sunlight, and breath so foul that they were always identified by smell before sight. Found nowhere else in Equestria but within the Everfree Forest, the Timberwolves were very ferocious predators, and would attack a pony without hesitation.

Although they hunted in packs, and shared the same general appearance as other breeds of wolves located throughout Equestria, that was where all resemblances with their canine brethren ended.

After having a close encounter with these beasts, an encounter that could have taken Applejack from them if not for Spike's brave actions, Twilight had spent several days researching the Timberwolves. She had read everything she could find about all of the known wolves in the world, and reread all of the books containing magical spells that could possibly have connections with the creatures, but finally gave up when she discovered that, as far as the rest of Equestria knew, the Timberwolves were both a natural and magical impossibility.

Consisting of a seemingly random collection of branches, logs, and twigs of various sizes that fit together in the form of a wolf, with leaves acting as eyebrows, ears, and the tips of their tails, the Timberwolves were animated by an unknown magical force.

Her heart hammering in her chest, Twilight watched the Timberwolves as they advanced, growling threateningly and baring their numerous sharp wooden teeth.

Even though they had learned from their previous experience that the Timberwolves were easily broken apart, causing the magical force that drove them to be expelled in a green puff of smoke, Twilight knew that the mystical energy would return and reassemble them. What she didn't know, however, was how long this process took, or how far away they could be by the time the wolves resumed their hunt.

Hearing Rainbow Dash gasp beside her, Twilight followed her gaze and found another group closing in from the right. As they continued their slow retreat, Twilight realized that there were now ten of the beasts stalking toward them, and felt dread knot in her stomach as she desperately fought to restrain the panic that was rising within her.

"I ain't never seen this many of them before," Applejack stated worriedly as the seven of them slowly backed away from the new arrivals.

Swinging the ornamental ball back and forth in a slow rhythmic pace, Zecora commanded, "All you foul beasts, go away! None here will be food today!"

A few moments after Zecora had begun to swing the small ball, an unpleasant smell of mixed spices that burned Twilight's nostrils enveloped them. Almost as soon as she had become aware of the smell, the Timberwolves came to a sudden halt, and lowering their heads, they snapped their jaws menacingly.

"Why aren't they leaving?" Fluttershy asked nervously.

"I think they're feeling more confident because there are so many of them," Twilight answered as her eyes scanned over the beasts, fully expecting them to lunge forward at any moment.

Finally, the Timberwolves began backing away reluctantly, the ones closest to them snorting irritably and repeatedly stopping to rub their snouts with their paws. As the small group of friends watched, each too anxious to even draw a breath, the creatures slipped back into the trees and were soon out of sight.

As one, they all sighed with relief.

"Boy, we sure were lucky to have you with us, Zecora," Rarity commented, tipping her hat with gratitude. "No telling what would have happened if you hadn't been here."

"Yeah," Twilight agreed. "But I don't think they went too far. They were really reluctant to leave."

"Then we must go at once," Zecora told them. "Before they try again for lunch."

Heading in the direction that the sage indicated, Twilight started off. Allowing the others to go on ahead, Zecora brought up the rear, the ball and string still dangling from her mouth.

Tense and alert, the friends moved carefully among the trees, their eyes shifting from one side to the other as they watched for any signs of danger.

After several long moments of silence, Rainbow Dash turned to Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie, are you still feeling like you?"

"Yuppity yuppers!" Pinkie Pie replied with a large smile.

Rainbow Dash suddenly looked very sad. "I really want to be myself again, but I keep saying and doing silly things without even meaning to."

Pinkie Pie nodded knowingly. "Oh, yeah, that happens all the time. Not even I know what I'm gonna do or say next!" She giggled for a moment, but then she frowned as her ears drooped. "But I guess it must be pretty hard for somepony who isn't used to it..."

"Yeah..." Rainbow Dash lowered her head and stared at the ground unhappily as they trotted, then perked up. "But you're yourself again! How did you do it? Do you have any advice for me?"

"Hmm." Coming to a sudden halt, Pinkie Pie tapped a hoof against her chin as she contemplated Rainbow Dash's question, and caused everypony behind her to crash into her and each other. She smiled sheepishly at their cries of anger. "Sorry, girls, I can't think real hard and walk at the same time. If I do I'll lose track of my legs...or my mind." The others, looking at one another questioningly, gave her smiles of reassurance and stepped around her.

"Oh, I got it," Pinkie Pie stated, then turned to Zecora. "Sorry to slow you down." Then she pranced off to catch up with the others.

Rainbow Dash hurried to catch up with Pinkie Pie. "You got it? What do you got?"

Taking a large breath, Pinkie Pie said, "I was really upset because I knew that Applejack was unhappy about not having her hat, and I wanted to make her smile but didn't know how. Then I thought of a joke I could tell her, but I was too scared, but I really wanted to make her happy. So, even though I felt really really shy, I told her the joke, and when she smiled, it was like a big ole bright light bulb glowing in my head and I realized that this was who I was. But then I got scared cause I remembered we were still in the Everfree Forest, but then I decided that I didn't want to be scared anymore cause I wanted to make ponies laugh and smile and throw that party for Silver Spoon. Then the big bright shiny bulb was back and I could see who I wanted to be and chose to be me and...BLAMO! I was me again!"

Having moved closer to better hear the conversation, Rarity summarized, "So, after helping Applejack, you could see who you were and who you wanted to be, and you made a choice and became yourself again?"

Panting, Pinkie Pie nodded.

Grinning widely, Rainbow Dash exclaimed, "Sounds easy peasy to me! The next time I feel like my old self, I'll just remember what you told me and I can be myself again too!"

Together, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash shouted, "YAY!"

Catching Applejack's questioning gaze, Twilight explained, "Our friendships are acting like a light that shines in their hearts, showing them the way to become themselves again. It's what Zecora has been telling us the whole time, we are connected to one another by our love, and that connection is slowly bringing them back."

Applejack pondered this for a moment. "So...when Pinkie told me that joke, it connected her heart to mine, and then she saw the light of our friendship and became herself again?"

"That's what happened," Twilight confirmed with a smile and a nod. "It was an emotional moment for her when you laughed at her joke, and I believe that's how they've been fighting the hypnosis. Every time they've shown their true selves, it was right after an emotional connection with a friend, like Rarity when you told her to keep the hat. That kind gesture had meant so much to her that she had wanted to come back to us, and we caught a glimpse of her true self struggling to take control."

"Well, I'm just glad that..." Applejack trailed off as a chorus of eerie howls arose from behind them.

"They're still following us," Twilight observed.

"It's okay," Pinkie Pie assured them with a bright smile. "Zecora's little whatchamacallit will keep them away."

"Yeah, but how are we gonna get past them when we're ready to head on back home?" Applejack pointed out.

Pinkie Pie's smile faltered. "Oh, I didn't think about that."

"Let's not worry about that yet," Twilight said. "We should focus on helping our friends. We'll worry about the Timberwolves when we get to them."

Although the fact that the Timberwolves were still stalking them terrified her, Twilight forced herself to concentrate on getting to the valley that held the Sun Glow's sprout. Once her friends were all back to normal, she felt confident that they would find a way past the wolves together.

Glancing uneasily behind them as several growls pierced the forest's silence, Applejack stated, "We won't have to focus on our friends much longer. With Pinkie back to bein' Pinkie, I'm sure that the others will follow shortly." Nodding toward Fluttershy hovering above, she added, "Even that one's bound to get some good sense in her head soon enough."

"I sure hope you're right," Twilight mumbled doubtfully.

"Of course she's right!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed loudly. "Fluttershy knows how much we love her, and we're important to her too! She'll choose to be with us in the end."

Upon hearing Pinkie Pie saying her name, Fluttershy looked back at them with a frown. Waving at her enthusiastically, Pinkie Pie shouted, "We love you, Fluttershy!"

With a small smile, Fluttershy returned the wave. "I know."

"See, I told you!" Pinkie Pie declared happily, but then gasped in fright as a Timberwolf suddenly emerged from the trees on their right.

Keeping its distance, the beast glared at them and snapped its jaws threateningly, clearly wanting nothing more than to lunge at them.

"Get outta here, ya varmint," Applejack yelled, kicking a rock at the creature's head. "Go on, shoo!"

As if provoked by Applejack's challenge, the rest of the Timberwolves began appearing all around them. Her breath catching in her throat, Twilight realized that they hadn't been simply following them, they had been quietly spreading out, and now had the small group of friends surrounded.

"Do not fear, ponies, they will not come near," Zecora reassured them as they formed a tight circle around her. "As long as I have-"

Stumbling backward in fright, Rainbow Dash tripped over Pinkie Pie's hoof and crashed into Zecora, causing her to drop the ornamental ball.

Helplessly watching as their only means of defense bounced away and disappeared into the thick brush, Zecora breathed, "Oh, dear."

Snarling viciously, the ten Timberwolves rushed toward them from every direction, their yellow eyes glowing brightly as they closed in on their unlucky prey.

"Girls, scatter!" Twilight cried, and then the friends bolted in all directions as the Timberwolves reached them.

Unsure who to chase, the beasts lunged one way, then the other, some even turning in a circle as the ponies quickly out-maneuvered them. This confusion didn't last long, however, and soon the Timberwolves were in pursuit, their longer limbs allowing them to cover ground at an alarming rate.

Galloping at full speed, Twilight could hear the Timberwolf behind her drawing near, and veering quickly to the left, felt its jaws snap shut just inches from her tail. Without slowing, Twilight glanced back to find that she had pulled away from the beast, and looking forward once more, gasped as she caught sight of Zecora and Pinkie Pie, running side by side and heading straight at her.

With no time to stop, the two split apart, allowing Twilight to race between them and straight toward the Timberwolf that had been chasing them. Eyes wide, she stared at the beast's wickedly sharp wooden teeth as the other Timberwolf advanced from behind.

Seeing that there was no escape for her, Twilight closed her eyes and focused her magic, and suddenly disappeared in a flash of magenta light.

As the two Timberwolves struggled to avoid a collision, Twilight reappeared several yards away. Quickly tilting her head down and pointing her horn toward the creatures, she fired a concussive blast.

The large magenta ball of energy streaked through the air, and connected solidly with the chest of one of the surprised beasts. It was thrown violently backward into the other, causing them both to explode in a spray of splintered wood and green smoke.

Turning away from the broken beasts, Twilight glimpsed Applejack as she dashed toward the Timberwolf that was closing in on Rainbow Dash. Crossing just behind the Pegasus, Applejack sharply smacked the beast across the snout with her tail.

Howling in fury, the Timberwolf forgot Rainbow Dash and gave chase to Applejack.

Ducking behind a large tree, Applejack balanced perfectly on her two front legs. Pulling her hind legs back tightly against her body, she kicked the Timberwolf with all her might as it rounded the trunk. Her kick, strengthened from years of applebucking, lifted the creature off its feet and sent it sprawling to the ground, where its body shattered and forcefully expelled its magical energy in a puff of green smoke.

"How do ya like them apples!?" Applejack hollered in triumph, but was surprised by a second Timberwolf that had come around the other side of the tree. "Whoa!" She cried as she stumbled backward.

Without warning, Fluttershy slammed into the beast from above, crushing it into the ground and coughing as she accidently inhaled some of the green smoke.

Overcome by a fit of coughing, Fluttershy sat down as she struggled to catch her breath while Applejack pounded her back repeatedly. Due to this, neither one of them saw the Timberwolf as it crept up behind them.

Unable to get a clear shot, Twilight could only watch with horror as the beast lunged forward, and came to a sudden stop as something green wrapped around its neck.

"Whoa there, fella!" Rarity yelled as she yanked on the vine that she had crafted into a makeshift lasso. "You all ain't gonna lay a paw on my friends so long as I'm around!"

With an angry bark, the Timberwolf launched itself at Rarity, but she rolled to the side, using the vine to sweep the legs out from under the angry beast. As it landed awkwardly on its back, Rarity quickly tied its legs together with the other end of the vine, and then she reared up on her hind legs and waved her hat in the air. "Yeehaw!"

Hearing a sudden cry for help, Twilight whipped around and found Pinkie Pie and Zecora, both holding large sticks, slowly backing away from a group of three Timberwolves. As she watched the two desperately swinging the sticks to keep the beasts at bay, one of them lunged forward and caught the end of Pinkie Pie's stick and snapped it in half.

At that moment, a look of anger passed over Rainbow Dash's features, and she leaped into the sky. Swooping in from above, Rainbow Dash landed directly in front of Pinkie Pie. "Zecora, Pink, I'll hold them off, save yourselves!" When the two hesitated, she shouted, "Go!"

Startled into action, Pinkie Pie and Zecora galloped away, leaving the fearless Pegasus to face the three beasts alone. Growling threateningly, the Timberwolves slowly closed in and prepared to pounce.

Crouching low to the ground, her wings fully extended, Rainbow Dash grinned. "Let's rock."

As the Timberwolves charged forward, Rainbow Dash rocketed straight through one of the beasts as if it were no more than a pile of sticks, blowing it apart and leaving a trail of green smoke behind her. With the other two pursuing her, Rainbow Dash soared toward a large tree, and flipping in the air just before reaching it, landed all four hooves on the trunk.

Quickly launching herself from the trunk, she raced toward the second of the beasts and uppercut it so hard that its entire head flew through the air as its body collapsed. Coming to an abrupt halt just in front of the third Timberwolf, Rainbow Dash swiftly ducked beneath its jaws as it clumsily lashed out at her, and brought both of her hind legs up to kick it squarely in the chest.

Staggered by the blow, the Timberwolf managed to keep its balance. Curling its upper lip to reveal its teeth, the beast started toward her. As Rainbow Dash prepared for its attack, the beast's chest suddenly caved in, causing it to crumple to the ground as it expelled a cloud of green smoke.

"Oh, yeah!" Rainbow Dash cried, leaping into the sky and pumping a hoof in the air in triumph. Just then she began to shake her head, and with a grimace, covered her face with her hooves as she spiraled down, crashing to the ground in an awkward heap only a few yards away from the final two Timberwolves.

Licking their lips, the two beasts began to advance on the downed Pegasus.

To Be or Not To Be

Chapter 9

To Be or Not To Be

Rushing forward, Twilight stood defensively over her fallen friend. Almost immediately, Applejack was standing by her side, and then Rarity moved next to her. A moment later, Fluttershy landed on Twilight's other side. Finally, Pinkie Pie and Zecora hurried to Fluttershy's side, and as one, they bravely stood before the approaching Timberwolves, determined to protect their friend.

In the face of such great resolve, the Timberwolves hesitated. After a few moments, they slowly turned away and vanished into the trees, leaving the friends alone in the eerie silence.

Hearing a soft groan, the friends turned back to find Rainbow Dash sitting up and rubbing her head. "Oh, wow," the Pegasus said, making a face. "I never want to be that happy ever again."

"Rainbow Dash, you're back!" Twilight exclaimed.

"You bet I am," Rainbow Dash replied with a smile, but then was knocked flat on her back as Pinkie Pie tackled her with an enormous hug.

"Oh, Rainbow! I'm so happy you're back!" Pinkie Pie cried happily.

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said, struggling to escape the excited Earth pony. "I'm happy too. But seriously, how can you stand being that happy all the time, Pink?"

Pinkie Pie beamed widely. "Because I can spread it around to all my friends, silly."

As Rainbow Dash chuckled at her answer, Applejack approached and hoof bumped her. "I knew ya could do it, Rainbow Dash." Glancing over at Pinkie Pie, she cocked an eyebrow. "What was bein' Pinkie Pie like?"

"Trust me," Rainbow Dash replied, cringing. "You don't wanna know."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Pinkie Pie demanded, glaring at her.

"Was it as easy as Pinkie said it was?" Rarity asked. "Cause to me it sounded like she was spouting a lot of hooey."

"Hey!" Pinkie Pie cried, outraged.

"Yeah, ya know that Pinkie," Applejack agreed. "Even when she's explainin' herself she don't make a lot of sense."

Pinkie Pie hoof stomped in frustration. "I'm standing right here!"

"Oops, sorry Pinkie," Applejack apologized.

"I'm sorry too," added Rarity.

"No offense, Pink," Rainbow Dash offered.

Grinning, Pinkie Pie waved a hoof dismissively. "None taken."

"But, yeah, it was totally as easy as Pinkie Pie said," Rainbow Dash answered. "I saw the two of them in trouble, and the urge to save them was overpowering. So I did, and afterwards, when Pinkie's personality tried to take back over, I could clearly see who I was supposed to be, and all of the sudden, fighting off the hypnosis was easy."

"Girls," Twilight suddenly spoke up. "I know this is a happy occasion for us, but I really think we should keep moving." Indicating the several piles of broken wood surrounding them, she continued, "We have no idea how long the Timberwolves will take to reanimate, and I want to be as far away from them as possible when they do."

"I don't think we have too much to worry about," Fluttershy stated from above. "We showed them what happens when they mess with us. I don't think they'll try again."

Twilight stepped forward. "But don't forget that they can come together to form a larger wolf. It would be much safer if we got away as quickly as possible."

Remembering the time that three Timberwolves had merged together and had nearly caught her, Applejack shivered. "I agree, let's get outta here."

Deciding to bring up the rear of their party, Twilight allowed the others to pass her before following, but after taking no more than five steps, she heard somepony call her name. Turning around, she found that Rainbow Dash hadn't yet moved. "Rainbow Dash, what's wrong? We need to get moving."

Nodding, Rainbow Dash trotted beside Twilight in silence, watching her indecisively. Understanding that the Pegasus sometimes had trouble expressing herself, Twilight waited patiently.

Finally, after quickly checking to make sure they were still alone, Rainbow Dash quietly asked, "You remember that talk we had yesterday, when you were upset? I told you that I respect you and could never do some of the things you've done in order to cheer you up?"

Twilight found that she was unable to hide the smirk that stole across her face. "Yeah."

"Uh, well." Looking extremely embarrassed, Rainbow Dash inquired, "Is there any way that you could forget I said all that?"

"Not a chance, Rainbow Dash." Twilight shook her head with amusement. "Not a chance."

Snorting in frustration, Rainbow Dash replied grumpily, "Yeah, that's kinda what I thought."

"But remember what you said," Twilight reminded her. "You said that you would have to remember why you said it, and maybe you wouldn't mind so much."

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash said with a frown. "I guess it's cool...but could you at least keep it to yourself?"

"Of course, Rainbow." Twilight smiled. "I promise."

"Great," Rainbow Dash said, seemingly satisfied with her answer. "And I really am proud to be your friend."

Deeply touched, Twilight beamed, but before she could respond, Fluttershy suddenly swooped down from above. "Wow, Dash, that was some sweet action!" she stated admiringly.

"I guess it was," Rainbow Dash replied uncertainly, not used to hearing Fluttershy speak in this manner.

"You just swooped in there at the nick of time and saved Pinkie and Zecora!" Fluttershy exclaimed enthusiastically. "And it was totally awesome how you just blew straight through that Timberwolf!"

"Uh...yeah-"

"And then you flipped just before hitting that tree!" Fluttershy continued with a small backward flip in the air. "And then sprang back off of it, and completely wiped out the other two!"

"I know, Fluttershy, I was there." Rainbow Dash scratched her head uneasily as she gave Twilight a questioning look. As Fluttershy continued to hover in front of her, grinning and clearly expecting her to say something more, Rainbow Dash took a wary step backward. "Would you mind if I talked to Twilight for a few? I have some things I wanna ask her, since, you know, I'm me again."

"Yeah, all right, that's cool," Fluttershy answered. As Rainbow Dash turned toward Twilight, Fluttershy suddenly said, "Hey, Rainbow."

Turning to face her once more, she found Fluttershy holding a hoof out toward her. "Hoof bump!"

With a forced smile, Rainbow Dash held out her own hoof, and used to Fluttershy's usual delicate hoof bumps, was surprised by the overly eager hoof bump that she received instead.

Shaking her stinging hoof, Rainbow Dash watched Fluttershy as she soared up into the sky. She then turned worriedly to Twilight. "So...what's the deal with Fluttershy? I know I've been here the whole time, but as Pinkie, I got distracted way too easily, and I know that I missed some stuff."

Unsure how much she could say without breaking the promise she made to Fluttershy back in the library, Twilight chose her words carefully. "Well, basically, she is really enjoying being more like you."

Rainbow Dash nodded her head knowingly. "That's totally understandable."

Giving Rainbow Dash a meaningful look, Twilight explained further. "She likes it, Dash. A lot. Like, more than anything else."

Eyes growing wide as she realized what Twilight was saying, Rainbow Dash asked, "You mean, like, so much she doesn't want to change back?"

"It's terrible Dash! And none of us know what to do."

Gazing up at Fluttershy, who had begun to fly in a leisurely circle above them, a look of distress crept across Rainbow Dash's face.

As she watched Rainbow Dash's features slowly turn to dismay, it suddenly occurred to Twilight that the proud Pegasus always acted differently toward Fluttershy than the rest of them. Always reluctant to allow her friends to see her emotions, she never seemed to have any trouble opening up to Fluttershy. While all of them tended to act more gently toward Fluttershy, it seemed that it was somehow different with Rainbow Dash, like there was something deeper.

Twilight knew from Fluttershy's stories that Rainbow Dash had stuck up for her in Summer Flight Camp before they had even known each other. Perhaps, being the best flyer in the camp, Rainbow Dash had felt the need to defend the weakest from the bullies, but whatever the reason, it seemed a strong bond had formed between the two.

At that moment, comprehension struck Twilight harder than Applejack hit her apple trees. Recalling Princess Luna's words, warning that she would need to allow another to solve the problem, or risk losing everything, she realized that this was exactly what the Princess had been hinting about. This was the moment when she needed to step back and let somepony else take up the fight, and that somepony else was Rainbow Dash.

Full of resolve and determined to do what was best for the others, Twilight made the decision to place all her hope and trust in Rainbow Dash. Placing a hoof on the Pegasus's shoulder, Twilight said, "You've got to talk to her."

Rainbow Dash blinked. "What, me? Why? What could I possibly say?"

"She loves being you because she has always looked up to you," Twilight pushed. "She'll listen to you, I know it."

Visibly anxious, Rainbow Dash asked, "But what if she won't?"

"She will."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Right...but what should I say to her?"

"I don't know." Twilight shrugged. "Just be kind and let her know you miss her."

Staring at Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash swallowed hard and then took flight. Noticing her drawing near, Fluttershy streaked toward her. "Hey, Dash, you wanna race?"

"Nah, not right now," Rainbow Dash answered, trying to sound as cool as possible. "I just wanted to talk to you."

Fluttershy grinned with pleasure. "Sure, what's up?"

Taking a moment to find the right words, Rainbow Dash said, "The others are telling me that you don't want to be yourself anymore. What's going on, Fluttershy? You can tell me."

"Well, I just don't want to be that weak scaredy-pony anymore," Fluttershy explained. "And can you blame me? I mean, look at how high I'm flying. And watch this!" Rocketing straight up toward a large cloud, Fluttershy sliced into it, and using her body as a chisel, chipped away at the cloud until it was the shape of a lightning bolt, identical to the one on Rainbow Dash's flank.

Looping back, Fluttershy soared toward Rainbow Dash. "See, wasn't that rad?"

"It sure was," Rainbow Dash admitted. "But don't you miss your old self?"

"No way!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "It's way too awesome being you!"

"Yeah, it is pretty great being me," Rainbow Dash agreed with a cocky smile. Deciding to try a different tactic, she asked, "But what about your animal friends? How can you care for them if you're always flying around and practicing new moves?"

Fluttershy frowned. "What do you mean? I'll be able to care for them like I always have."

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No, Fluttershy. You're me now, remember? I probably wouldn't even think to feed them."

"But I-"

"C'mon, Fluttershy, it takes you the entire morning to take care of them all. There's no way you'll have the patience for that now. I wouldn't even be able to make it a half hour before going completely out of my mind with boredom."

Seeing Fluttershy's face fall as she realized her friend was right, Rainbow Dash pressed on. "This isn't you, Fluttershy. You've got to go back to your old self. You'll be happier that way."

"Happier?" Fluttershy retorted. "How will I be happier when I'm scared of my own shadow? How can I be happier when I can't even find the courage to fly?"

"Um..." Rainbow Dash trailed off, unsure what to say.

"Just think back to Summer Flight Camp, you think I was happy then?" Fluttershy demanded. "I was the weakest flyer and everypony laughed at me. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there to defend me. I wouldn't have even gotten my cutie mark if it weren't for you."

"You...I...uh..." Rainbow Dash stammered, recognizing the truth behind her words.

"But no, I would never expect you to understand any of that!" Fluttershy snapped. "You were always the best, at everything. You were top flyer in the whole camp, you won every race, and everypony listened when you had something to say." Her face becoming a mask of rage, Fluttershy yelled, "But I didn't have any of that! All I had was a group of bullies that laughed and made up songs about how awful of a flyer I was! That camp was the worst time of my life!"

Fully comprehending the extent of Fluttershy's suffering, Rainbow Dash had begun to shrink away from the enraged Pegasus, her ears drooping in defeat. But then her last statement struck something deep within, and Rainbow Dash blurted out, "And it helped you find your destiny!"

This brought Fluttershy up short. She stared at Rainbow Dash for a long moment. "No, that was you."

"Actually, Fluttershy...it was you."

"No," Flutteshy shook her head. "You challenged those colts to a race that knocked me out of the clouds, and it was your Sonic Rainboom that startled the animals and allowed me to discover my special connection with them. It was you."

Wanting to ease Fluttershy's anguish more than she had ever wanted anything in her entire life, Rainbow Dash spoke straight from her heart in a voice that was brimming with emotion. "You're wrong, Fluttershy. I may have caused the situation, but it was your heart, your instincts, that discovered your destiny and earned you your cutie mark. In fact, if you hadn't been at Summer Flight Camp, I may not have gotten mine, and then the others wouldn't have gotten theirs either."

As Fluttershy hovered before her, speechless, Rainbow Dash went on. "And you think that you were weak, but weren't you up there every day giving it your all? Sure, you ran off crying when everypony laughed at you. But didn't you still come back the next day and try again?"

"Well...yeah."

Suddenly overcome with regret, Rainbow Dash looked away. "In the beginning, when those bullies first started singing those songs...I laughed with everypony else."

"You did?" Fluttershy asked quietly, her eyes wide with shock.

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash admitted with an unhappy sigh. "But then I saw you return, day after day, and try as hard as you could. And watching you struggle...I came to respect you. That's why I started sticking up for you. I didn't even know you, but I recognized your guts, your will, and I wanted to know you."

"Really?"

"And anyway, we were all foals back then. Nopony thinks of you as weak anymore," Rainbow Dash stated. "Actually, Flitter and I were just talking about you a few days ago."

"About me?" Fluttershy repeated in surprise. "What was she saying?"

"She was telling me that she had seen you flying alongside a hawk a little while ago, and that she had been impressed with your flying skills. And it wasn't because you were a strong flier, or because you were flying fast, she was impressed by how graceful you were. She said that you made it look so natural, and it had been one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen."

Mouth hanging open, Fluttershy could do nothing more than stare at her friend.

Scratching her head in embarrassment, Rainbow Dash smiled sheepishly. "I thought that was a really nice thing for Flitter to say about you, and I totally meant to tell you about it, but...I forgot."

"She...she really said that?" Fluttershy muttered in astonishment.

"Yeah." Rainbow Dash nodded. "So you see, everypony respects you here. They may not be as obvious about it as they are with me, but they do."

"But, what about you?" Fluttershy asked. "Don't you like me more this way?"

Knowing that she could not spare Fluttershy's feelings, Rainbow Dash shook her head. "No, Fluttershy, I don't like this at all. I want you to go back to your old self. That is the Fluttershy I respect, the only Fluttershy I respect."

"But...we could go flying together whenever you want now," Fluttershy offered, desperately trying to earn Rainbow Dash's approval. "And I can help you practice your new stunts, and even help with your weather jobs." Moving in closer, she said, "Think about it, I'll never chicken out now. I won't ever disappoint you again."

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but I don't want any of that. I just want you back."

Crestfallen, Fluttershy began to slowly descend to the ground, hiding her face behind her mane.

"Where you going?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I don't feel like flying anymore," Fluttershy mumbled, refusing to meet her friend's gaze.

Landing softly on the ground, Fluttershy trotted ahead, passing Zecora without a single glance, and only slowed when she had put a good amount of distance between them.

Frowning at Fluttershy's behavior, Twilight watched Rainbow Dash as she returned. "So, what did she say? Is she willing to become herself again?"

"I don't know," Rainbow Dash said in a troubled tone. "I think all I did was hurt her feelings."

Gazing at Fluttershy, Twilight said, "Maybe she just needs some time to absorb everything. But..." Turning back to Rainbow Dash, Twilight trailed off when she saw that the Pegasus was fighting back tears. "Rainbow?"

"She told me that this new Fluttershy would never disappoint me," Rainbow Dash said in a shaky voice. "How many times have I made her feel that way? I'm always too hard on her, I always push her to do things she's not comfortable with." Looking at Twilight with tear brimmed eyes, she whispered, "She doesn't want to change back, and it's all my fault."

Together, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all moved around Rainbow Dash, each pressing their head to hers. Standing there, feeling the warmth from four of her closest friends, Rainbow Dash regained control of her emotions, and with a sniff, stepped back and wiped her eyes.

Glancing behind her, Twilight found Zecora watching them. Upon noticing her, Zecora held her gaze for a moment, during which Twilight registered the sorrow in her eyes.

After taking a deep breath, Rainbow Dash assured them, "All right, I'm cool, thanks guys." Then she indicated Fluttershy, who was walking with her shoulders slumped and her head hung as she stared at the ground. "But look at Fluttershy. I think she's distancing herself from us."

"She just needs a friend," Rarity stated, fidgeting with her hat. "I'll just head on over there and see if she wants to talk."

As Rarity started off, Applejack quickly put out a hoof to stop her. "Err...Rarity, maybe somepony who is actually themselves should go talk to her."

"I'll go," Pinkie Pie volunteered.

"Be careful Pinkie, she doesn't need any of your over the top, super hyper antics," Rainbow Dash warned.

Making a face, Pinkie Pie exclaimed, "I know that!" Noticing that her friend was still visibly upset, she added, "Don't worry Dashie, I'll be careful." Then, with a reassuring smile, she galloped ahead to catch up with Fluttershy.

"Ya'll think Pinkie can handle it on her own?" Applejack asked worriedly.

"I don't know of anypony else who would be more qualified," Twilight answered.

Staring anxiously at the Earth pony as she reached Fluttershy and began talking, the four followed Zecora in tense silence.

After several minutes, Fluttershy suddenly laughed and launched herself back into the sky as a smiling Pinkie Pie skipped back toward them.

"Pinkie, how in the world can you cheer up even the most depressed pony after only a few minutes with them?" Applejack asked in awe as she neared them.

Pinkie Pie grinned. "Because laughter brings happiness." Turning to Rainbow Dash, she winked playfully. "Told you not to worry."

"Thanks, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said, and Twilight noticed that she no longer looked so troubled.

"I know that for your friend, you fear," Zecora interrupted them. "But things can now get better, we're here."

Lifting a hoof, Zecora pulled back a curtain of vines to reveal a sunlit valley. Stepping out of the trees, the six friends gasped at the beauty before them.

The valley was huge, stretching as far as the eye could see in every direction. Not far from where they were standing, a river of crystal clear water flowed as multiple fish leaped into the air.

Although the valley itself was beautiful, it was not what had impressed the six friends.

Towering above them was a giant flower that vaguely resembled a tulip, large enough for all six ponies to sit inside. It's golden orange petals seemed to glow in the sunlight as it swayed on a thin but sturdy leafy stem that stretched to the ground. Looking around, Twilight spotted several other flowers sporadically spaced across the valley.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it...this is it," Rainbow Dash muttered.

"What's that now?" Applejack cocked an eyebrow.

"Nothing. Never mind," Rainbow Dash hastily replied.

Gazing at the giant flower in wonder, Twilight inquired, "This is the Sun Glow?"

"Yes, indeed," Zecora answered, then pointed to a small pod hanging below an enormous leaf on the stem not far above. "Now, I just need the sprout freed." She glanced at Rainbow Dash. "Now, my dear, if you don't mind, you could save us some valuable time."

"Of course!" Rainbow Dash flew up and with a strong tug, pulled the pod free. Giving the Sun Glow sprout to Zecora, she asked, "How can something so big begin so small?"

"That is why there is such beauty in life," Zecora told her. "Nothing can be strong without a struggle and strife."

Placing the pod on the ground, Zecora smashed it opened with a hoof and began scooping the fluid inside into a bottle. Following Zecora to the river, the friends sat down as they watched her fill a bottle half full of water, and then begin to mix in other herbs that she had brought along in her saddlebag.

While Zecora worked, Rarity approached the river. "Good gravy, I need a drink," she said, bending her head toward the water. "My throat is as dry as-"

Without warning, Rarity shrieked, causing them all to start and Zecora to drop the bottle she was holding.

Staring at her own reflection in the water, Rarity cried, "Oh my stars, would you just look at my mane! It's covered with dried mud and is such a tangled mess! And my coat! It's so matted down and filthy!" Placing a foreleg across her brow, she sat back on her haunches. "Oh, this is a fashion disaster! No! It's worse than that! This is a fashion nightmare!"

Seeing her begin to sway, Applejack rushed forward just in time to catch the stricken Unicorn as she fainted. Laying her on the ground, Applejack gently slapped her face, speaking her name softly.

After several moments, Rarity slowly opened her eyes and sat up. "Oh, what a bizarre dream. I dreamt that I had become a...a..." Shivering, she finished. "A country girl." Inspecting her hooves and noticing the chips and dirt on them, she sighed dramatically. "I suppose it wasn't a dream after all...I'm going to be in desperate need of a makeover."

"Well, stuff me full of apples and call me a bushel!" Applejack exclaimed. "She's so prissy that one look at all her messiness was all it took for her true self to come back faster than a jackrabbit on a sugar rush!"

Thrilled, Twilight laughed at Applejack's comment and beamed at her friend as she blinked and looked around at all of them.

Gingerly touching her mane, Rarity's hoof landed on Applejack's hat, and pulling it off, she stared at it with confusion.

"Ugh, why in Equestria was I wearing this dingy old thing?" she asked as she tossed Applejack's hat aside. Catching the dirty look her friend was giving her, Rarity quickly added, "Not that it looks bad on you, darling. It brings about a sort of...rustic charm."

Glaring at Rarity as she finally placed her beloved hat back atop her head, Applejack's grin broke free of her fake scowl and she hugged her friend fiercely.

"Oh, no, don't, you'll get dirty..." Rarity began, but then gave up her resistance and returned Applejack's hug.

"It's great to have ya back," Applejack said happily. "Your fussin' and all."

As Applejack released her, Rarity placed a hoof gently on her cheek. "Applejack... thank you for giving me your hat. I'll never forget it, and maybe, someday, I'll prove myself worthy enough to have a friend as fabulous as you."

Her face slowly turning red, Applejack stepped back as Pinkie Pie scooped Rarity up in a great hug that caused her to gasp for air.

Smiling broadly, Pinkie Pie exclaimed, "I'll bet you totally set the record for the quickest anypony has ever freed themselves from the Sleeping Weeping Willow's hypnosis!"

"Yeah, great job, Rare," Rainbow Dash agreed, holding out a hoof.

Rarity stuck her nose into the air. "Hoof bumps really aren't my thing." With a sudden grin, she added, "But it certainly does seem appropriate in this situation, doesn't it?"

Hoof bumping a beaming Rainbow Dash, Rarity giggled and climbed to her hooves. "I hope you girls don't mind if I take a moment to freshen up, at least the best that I can here. I've just got to get some of this gunk off of me. It is most unpleasant."

Entering the river, Rarity stopped near the bank where it was still shallow and lying down, began rubbing at her mane determinedly.

Glancing up at Fluttershy and catching the look of anger on her face as she watched Rarity, Twilight quickly trotted over to Zecora.

Remaining silent as the sage vigorously shook a bottle and then added a single drop to another bottle, causing a light blue puff of smoke to rise into the air, Twilight studied the contents and realized it looked exactly like the liquid that she had spilled the previous evening.

"Is it done?" Twilight asked excitedly.

Smiling, Zecora nodded, but then gave her a stern look. "It will only work if Fluttershy wants it to. If she does not, then there is nothing we can do."

"And...I guess we only get one shot?"

"No, I can make more," Zecora answered. "But if you can't convince her, it will be a useless chore."

Carrying the potion to the others, Twilight announced, "Okay everypony, Fluttershy's remedy is finished, but it can only work if we convince her to change back. Are we ready?"

As the others all nodded, Twilight called, "Fluttershy, we need to talk to you."

Knowing what they wanted to talk about, Fluttershy landed before them. With a nasty look on her face, she sat down and crossed her forelegs across her chest. "What? You guys wanna tell me how much you don't like me now?"

"We don't like you," Pinkie Pie replied in a serious tone, causing the others to gasp in shock.

"Pinkie!" Twilight cried, appalled.

"We love you!" the joyful Earth pony exclaimed, jumping into the air and throwing her forelegs out wildly. Relieved, the others all nodded their agreement.

"We really do, Fluttershy. Everypony here does," Twilight said. "We love you with all of our hearts."

"And we want you back, as yourself," Rainbow Dash added, placing a hoof on her shoulder.

Angrily, Fluttershy shrugged off Rainbow Dash's hoof. "None of you have any idea how much fun I'm having now. If I go back, I'll be plain old boring Fluttershy again."

"But sugar cube, you ain't boring," Applejack argued.

Fluttershy frowned. "I'm...not?"

"Oh, heavens no," Rarity responded from the river as she picked a twig out of her tail. "I always enjoy having you over while I work, and I look forward every week to our spa dates."

"And I just love, love, love, all our picnics with your animal friends," Pinkie Pie chimed.

"I don't ever see Winona happier than she is when ya come over to take her for a walk," Applejack added.

"After a hard day of studying," Twilight told her, "there isn't anything more relaxing than visiting you at your cottage and drinking your tea. And I really enjoy all those animal stories you always tell."

"Yeah, and remember all the things we've done together," Rainbow Dash smiled. "Like the butterfly migration and our walks around the lake?"

Scowling, Fluttershy said nastily, "You hated those things."

Her face falling, Rainbow Dash looked down and began picking at the dirt with her hoof. "I'm sorry that I made you feel that way, but the truth is, I enjoyed them because you did. Sure, the butterfly migration was like the most boring thing ever, but watching you enjoy it made me happy. I don't know why I hid it from you. I guess I just didn't want you to think I was going soft."

"I am so disappointed in you, Rainbow," Fluttershy spat. "I thought you were the coolest pony around, but now I see that you're just a big softie." Standing up, she glared at them all. "I can't believe this! I thought you would all be happy for me! I mean, I'm so much better now than I used to be, but all you guys do is whine about missing my old self."

"Fluttershy, I think th-" Applejack began.

"I don't give a flying feather what you think!" Fluttershy shouted, causing Applejack to flinch and draw back. "Face it, old Fluttershy is gone!"

"Fluttershy..."

Hearing the disappointment in Rainbow Dash's voice, Fluttershy snapped, "There it is again, the disappointment! Even when I better myself you are still disappointed in me! Well, maybe I'm not the problem, maybe all of you are the problem!"

Her face a mask of rage, Fluttershy leaped into the sky. "I am so sick of all you losers! I'm outta here!"

Then, before any of them could say a word, she dashed out of the valley, and out of their lives.

Once Bitten, Twice Fluttershy

Chapter 10

Once Bitten, Twice Fluttershy

Recalling her dream, Twilight cried desperately, "Somepony, stop her!"

"I'm on it!" Rainbow Dash shouted, and raced after their fleeing friend.

Rushing through the branches at breakneck speed, Rainbow Dash allowed her instincts, honed by years of practice, to take full control. Staring straight ahead, she focused only on what was directly in front of her, her mind free of all thoughts, her body rigid, tense, and ready to react at a split-second's notice.

With the wind blowing through her mane and adrenaline pumping through her veins, Rainbow Dash was completely in her element.

In only a matter of seconds, she caught sight of Fluttershy, and shifted her focus to the tip of her tail. As she rocketed along, nothing seemed to exist in the world but the tail. Banking when it did, swooping when it swooped, Rainbow Dash lost herself in her need to catch her target.

Expertly ducking beneath a thick branch that she hadn't seen until the last possible second, Rainbow Dash suddenly found Fluttershy's tail to be nearly within her reach, and with an extra burst of speed, caught it in her teeth.

Crying out in surprise, Fluttershy sent them both into a spiraling dive, only barely managing to level out before hitting the ground. Refusing to lose her hold of Fluttershy's tail, Rainbow Dash clinched her mouth shut as they blew through a large bush, its branches scraping her face and wings painfully.

Suddenly, they emerged into the valley once more, and blinded by the unexpected sunlight, Rainbow Dash lost her grip of Fluttershy's tail and crashed into one of the Sun Glow flowers. For a moment, she could see nothing except for the golden orange petals, but then, as the entire flower bent over from the force of her blow, she exited the other side, tumbling through the air head over hooves.

Unable to tell which way was up or down as she plummeted toward the ground, Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and quickly regained her equilibrium. Her balance restored, she looped around to find Fluttershy racing along the river and followed in hot pursuit.

***

As the others galloped along the river in an attempt to keep up with the two Pegasi, Rarity remained where she was and continued to determinedly scrub the dirt and grime from her mane.

It wasn't that she didn't care about the dramatic chase that had suddenly occurred, but she knew that she wouldn't be of any help to anypony in such a situation. Especially not while she was covered from head to hoof in mud, dirt, and who knew what else.

Glancing up and noticing that the others were all out of sight, Rarity came to realize that there was a very good possibility that she could become separated from her friends. Terrified of getting lost this deep within the Everfree Forest, Rarity quickly climbed out of the river and galloped after the others.

A few minutes later, Rarity began to hear the others calling out, and soon found them on a ridge above her.

They must have found an incline and climbed up to better see the two Pegasi. Rarity mused to herself. Well I'm perfectly fine right here where I can get back to my grooming. If this can even be called grooming.

Placing a hoof into the water, she immediately noticed that the current was much stronger. Frowning, Rarity gazed further along the river, and for the first time, became aware of the distant roar of a waterfall.

Just then, the others cried out some kind of warning. A moment later, Fluttershy erupted from the trees, alone.

Recognizing the tragedy that was about to unfold, Rarity galloped harder than she had ever run in her entire life. All thoughts of her dirty mane and chipped hooves vanished from her mind as she realized that she was the only one close enough to prevent it.

Feeling strangely calm, Rarity knew what she had to do.

***

No more than a few yards behind Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash was preparing to grab her tail for a second time when she suddenly looped around and brought both hind legs down on her back. Spinning out, Rainbow Dash fell toward the water below, but straighten out just before hitting the surface.

How is she this good already? Rainbow Dash wondered. Sure, she has my personality, but these moves take practice. How is she pulling them off?

Determined to end this chase now, Rainbow Dash rocketed toward Fluttershy as she veered into the trees.

Deciding to try a new tactic, Rainbow Dash rose higher, wanting to approach her from above. Below, she could see Fluttershy's head turning this way and that as she attempted to locate her, and then she swooped down, forelegs spread wide to grab her around the middle.

Hearing the sound of her approach, Fluttershy quickly flipped around just as Rainbow Dash collided with her, and the two of them careened wildly through the air, legs locked around each other in a struggle to gain the advantage.

Face to face, Rainbow Dash could see the same determination in Fluttershy's eyes as she felt within herself, and in exasperation, asked, "How are you doing this? Where did you learn to pull off these moves?"

Fluttershy sneered. "I've watched you do them for years! All I needed to perform them was..." Breaking free of her grip, Fluttershy wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow Dash's neck and brought a hoof up into her stomach. "The courage!" Suddenly flipping in the air, she threw Rainbow Dash toward the trunk of a nearby tree.

Barely managing to avoid the trunk, Rainbow Dash clipped her wing and spiraled toward the ground. Pulling up at the last moment to prevent landing on her head, she crashed, skipping twice over the rough terrain before coming to a stop in the dense brush.

"OH, YEAH!" Fluttershy screamed in triumph, flying backward and pointing at the downed Pegasus. "I out flew the great Rainbow Dash! Haha!" Spotting the others on a ridge, she yelled, "Did you see that?! I am the best! I'm-"

"Fluttershy, look out!" her friends called. Turning, she saw the branch too late.

With a cry of surprise, Fluttershy struck the thick branch with enough force to snap it from the tree, and was sent tumbling through the air.

The world spun around her at sickening speed. Then, she was cold and wet. And then, everything just went black.

***

Racing toward the unconscious Pegasus as she was swept toward the waterfall, Rarity dove into the river without a second's hesitation. Swimming as hard as she could, and aided by the current, she quickly reached Fluttershy and turned her over.

Immediately, Fluttershy began to cough as her airways became clear of water, but even after a few hard smacks from Rarity, she did not awaken.

Although she was able to use her magic to pick up items such as scissors and her mannequins, she was nowhere near as powerful as Twilight and could not lift anypony larger than a foal. Knowing that she couldn't get Fluttershy to the riverbank before they reached the waterfall, and that the Pegasus could not wake up to fly them to safety, Rarity began to improvise. Her eyes fell on the branch that Fluttershy had crashed into, then moved over to a small cluster of rocks right at the edge of the waterfall, and quickly formed a plan.

Reaching out with her magic, she gripped the branch and brought it toward them. Lifting the front half of Fluttershy and using her magic to lift her back end, Rarity threw her friend onto the branch. Taking the time to be sure that the Pegasus would not slip off, Rarity looked ahead and saw that they were approaching the edge at an alarming rate.

As she began pushing the branch toward the rocks, Rarity realized that she was simply not a strong enough swimmer to cover the distance before they fell. Turning the branch in the water, so that the thickest end was facing the rocks, Rarity gripped the branch with both her hooves and her magic, and shoved it as hard as she could.

Watching the branch drift through the water ahead of her, she felt a thrill as the thick end wedged itself between two rocks and held, bracing Fluttershy in place.

The thrill did not last long, however, and with a shriek of terror, Rarity disappeared over the edge of the waterfall.

***

"Rarity!" Twilight screamed in despair as she and the others raced to the waterfall's edge. Staring down at the water crashing into the rocks below, she saw no trace of the Unicorn. Turning, she saw Applejack and Zecora out on the rocks, dragging Fluttershy toward the shore, and further back, Pinkie Pie, with Rainbow Dash's leg around her neck, as she slowly led the injured Pegasus toward them.

Rushing forward, Twilight cried, "Rainbow Dash, are you hurt?"

"Nah," Rainbow Dash answered. "I just got the wind knocked out of me is all, but I did clip my wing pretty good." Studying her wings, Twilight saw that one was missing numerous feathers and she was holding it out away from her body.

"You don't think it's broken, do you?" she asked worriedly.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "But it hurts too much to fold right now. It'll pass in a day or so..." Turning to look at Applejack as she rolled Fluttershy onto her back, she asked, "Is Fluttershy all right? And where's Rarity?"

Unable to hold back the tears, Twilight hung her head and began to sob. Frightened, Rainbow Dash turned to Pinkie Pie, who said, "She's gone, Dash," and began to cry as well.

Gazing at the dripping wet Fluttershy, then the edge of the waterfall, Rainbow Dash quickly put together what had happened. "NO!" she shouted and galloped toward the edge.

Jumping up, Applejack gripped Rainbow Dash around the middle. "Stop! She's gone, Dash!"

"No, I've got to go after her, I've got to find her!" Rainbow Dash struggled.

"Dash, you can't fly!"

"It doesn't matter!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "Rarity needs our help! I've got to-"

Suddenly, something enormous and purple lifted out of the river, causing them all to cry out in shock. Before they could comprehend what was happening, it was gone, and in its place was a soaking wet and sputtering Rarity.

"Rarity!" they all exclaimed simultaneously as they rushed to her.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked franticly. "Say something if you are. Anything!"

Rarity opened her eyes wide and took a deep breath. "Oh, cruel fates, why must you always place mud puddles and rivers in my path?! Oh, why?!"

The others paused for a moment and looked at each other, then they all erupted in relieved laughter as they gave the drenched Unicorn a fierce group hug.

Just then, the same purple form that had rescued Rarity exploded from the water and rose high into the sky. "How is the lady?" it asked in a voice that belied its vast size. "Not too waterlogged, I hope,"

As the others all stared at the large sea serpent with mouths hung open, Rarity smiled. "I'm fine, thanks to you. Thank you so much for saving me."

"Oh, don't mention it," he said, lifting a huge clawed hand and running it through his lush golden mane. "My fair Rarity has nothing to fear from the waters of the Everfree Forest so long as I'm around."

Finally managing to wrap her head around what had just happened, Twilight said, "I can't believe you remember us."

Several years ago, when the friends had first entered the Everfree Forest to retrieve the Elements of Harmony in order to face Nightmare Moon, they had come across this very sea serpent. In order to prevent them from reaching the ruins that housed the elements, Nightmare Moon had sliced off one side of the serpent's moustache, and in his grief, he had made the waters too dangerous to cross.

Understanding the creature's plight, and sympathizing with him, Rarity had cut off a large portion of her own tail and attached it to his ruined moustache to repair the damage. The sea serpent had been so touched by her generosity that he had allowed the friends to cross the river on his back.

Seemingly shocked by her statement, the sea serpent declared, "I could never forget a pony as generous and beautiful as Rarity!"

Amused, Twilight noticed his moustache had changed. Where it had once been thin and the same golden color as his mane, it was now the same color purple as Rarity's tail, and both sides had the same tight little curls in them.

"Why, you've changed your moustache," Rarity observed pleasantly.

"Yes, I do hope you like it," the serpent responded, lovingly running his finger over it. "I was inspired by your gift and wanted the whole thing to look just like it."

"You look smashing," Rarity told him, looking very pleased with herself.

Turning away from her friends and the sea serpent, Rainbow Dash trotted over to Zecora, who was watching over the still unconscious Fluttershy. "How is she?"

"I believe that she shall awaken soon," Zecora replied. "Now let us hope that to Rarity's act of kindness, she was not immune."

With a small smile, Zecora walked away to allow Rainbow Dash to talk with her friend in private.

"Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash spoke softly, and gently slapped her cheek.

Slowly opening her eyes, Fluttershy sat up. "What just happened?"

"Well...you kinda threw me into a tree, then crashed into the river, and Rarity saved you before you went over the waterfall."

Fluttershy rubbed her head. "I guess I had a bit of a close call then." When Rainbow Dash nodded her agreement, Fluttershy threw her a cocky smile. "But I still totally bested you."

"Yeah, you did." Rainbow Dash shrugged, not caring one bit that she had been out performed. "You totally proved yourself. Now will you go back to your old self?"

Hearing Zecora clear her throat loudly, they both looked up to see the zebra place the bottle that contained Fluttershy's remedy on a rock several yards away before turning and joining the others.

Staring at the bottle for several long moments, then looking back at Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy stated simply, "No."

Her blood running cold as dread knotted in her stomach, Rainbow Dash collapsed to the ground in complete and utter defeat. "But...why?" she whispered.

"You just don't get it, Dash," Fluttershy explained. "I was so afraid of everything, and now I'm not scared of anything. You've never been afraid like me, so you can't possibly understand how wonderful this feels. But it's cool, I'm still willing to be your friend. Just think of all the awesome things that we could..." She trailed off as she stared at Rainbow Dash. "A-are you crying?"

Covering her face with her hooves, Rainbow Dash quickly responded, "No, I-I've just got someth-" Suddenly she paused in mid-sentence.

This was her last chance to persuade Fluttershy, and she knew that she couldn't waste it hiding her emotions. If she was going to convince her, Rainbow Dash knew she had to tell her everything, to open up to her completely. It was something she had never done before, and the idea terrified her, but she understood it was the only way.

Sitting up and looking Fluttershy in the eyes, even as the tears continued to stream down her face, Rainbow Dash confessed. "I'm so sorry, Fluttershy. I know that I'm the reason you resent your old self so much. I've always pushed you too hard and tried to force you to do things you didn't want to. Like when we all had to climb that mountain to wake up the sleeping dragon. I was so mean to you then, I acted just like those bullies in Summer Flight Camp. And I should never have tried to make you go to the dragon migration, I knew how afraid of dragons you are. And what about that time when Trixie took over Ponyville, I volunteered you to sneak out of town, and wouldn't let you say no.

"Worst of all, I've always acted disappointed when I felt that you didn't do as well as I believed you should. I had no right to act that way toward you. I always knew that you were trying your best, but I expected more, and that was wrong of me." Sniffing miserably, Rainbow Dash slumped back to the ground, ears drooping sadly. "And now look at you. You're not even Fluttershy anymore, and you don't want to change back, and it's all because of me."

"Rainbow, I-"

Reaching out, Rainbow Dash clutched Fluttershy's hoof with both of hers. "Please, Fluttershy," she begged. "Come back to us. I need you. I'll do anything. I won't ever ask you to do anything I know you wouldn't want to, and I'll never act disappointed again. I'll help you with the annual bunny census that I always try to get out of, and I'll go to every butterfly migration from this point on. I'll change, I promise." Sobbing now, she began Pinkie Pie's sacred oath. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cup-"

Grabbing Rainbow Dash's hoof and preventing her from completing the oath, Fluttershy whispered, "I'm sorry, Dash." Then she bolted into the sky.

Knowing that she had failed and that Fluttershy was lost to them forever, Rainbow Dash began to weep as she turned to watch her friend leave, but her breath suddenly caught in her throat as she realized that Fluttershy was standing next to the rock on which her remedy stood.

Studying the bottle for what felt like an eternity, Fluttershy slowly lifted it. Glancing over one final time at Rainbow Dash, she quickly gulped its contents.

The bottle shattered over the rocks as Fluttershy staggered, and then she crumpled to the ground.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash cried as she galloped toward her friend, and kneeling beside her, lifted her head off the ground.

Without warning, Fluttershy's eyes flew wide open, and in a sweet, soft voice, said, "I don't ever want you to change, Rainbow Dash."

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash blubbered, clutching her friend tightly. "You're back, I'm so happy you're back!"

"I'm so, so sorry, Rainbow," Fluttershy said as she began to cry as well.

Rainbow Dash wiped her eyes. "For what?"

"For all the awful things I said, and I hurt your wing. I've been a terrible friend."

"You're the best friend a pony could ever ask for," Rainbow Dash replied with a watery smile.

"We think so too," Applejack said from directly behind them.

Startled, Rainbow Dash whirled around to find the sea serpent gone and the others watching them. "How long have you guys been standing there?" Rainbow Dash asked, embarrassed.

"Long enough to hear ya bawlin' like a newborn baby," Applejack replied with a mischievous grin.

"I-I just got something in my eye," Rainbow Dash explained.

"Of course, my mistake," Applejack retorted, rolling her eyes.

"No really," Rainbow Dash insisted. "You saw my crash. It could be dirt, or grass, or just about anything."

"Uh huh."

Stepping forward, Rarity scolded, "Now you stop giving Rainbow a hard time this instant, Applejack. She has had a very dramatic day and has no need of such uncouth behavior."

"All right already, Rarity," Applejack said. Then, with a warm smile, she added, "Sorry Dash."

"Now, this stays with you guys, right?" Rainbow Dash asked worriedly. "I've got a reputation to maintain."

As the others assured Rainbow Dash that her secret was safe, Fluttershy slowly got up and humbly stood before her friends.

She gazed at the ground as she rubbed her foreleg shyly. "I'm sorry, girls. For everything. I guess I've been pretty stupid."

"No, not stupid," replied Pinkie Pie. "Let's just say silly."

Fluttershy smiled. "Fine then, I've been silly. I knew the whole time that this was the way all of you really want me, but that other me just didn't want to face it. I know all of you love me for who I am, even if I am weak and helpless."

"But you're not weak or helpless, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash argued.

"That's kind of you to say, Rainbow, but we all know the truth."

"The truth, Fluttershy, is that you underestimate yourself far too often," Rarity interjected.

Fluttershy cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I just happen to remember a certain pony that got face to face with a dragon and told him off for attacking her friends," Rarity reminded her. "You even made him cry!"

"Ya know, I remember a time that Apple Bloom came home with this amazin' story of how you won a staring contest against a cockatrice," Applejack added. "Why, you didn't stop lookin' him square in the eyes even when ya started turnin' to stone."

Blinking, Fluttershy began, "I-"

"And remember when the Pegasi needed to funnel water from the lake to Cloudsdale using tornado power?" Twilight interrupted. "They were stuck at seven ninety five wing power, and it was you, Fluttershy, who raised it to the eight hundred mark."

"Oh, oh, and how about that time when you stood up to Iron Will!" Pinkie Pie hopped up and down excitedly. "I was so surprised that Rarity had to close my mouth for me!"

Embarrassed, Fluttershy lowered her head and allowed her mane to fall over her face, but looking closely, Rainbow Dash could see her pleased smile.

"And what about Discord?" Rainbow Dash turned to the others. "Fluttershy practically reformed him singlehoofedly. Even after the rest of us thought it was a lost cause, she refused to give up on him. And he was the master of chaos!"

Rainbow Dash pushed Fluttershy's mane away from her face. "Fluttershy, you are, undeniably, unquestionably, the most awesomely amazing Pegasus I have ever met."

Leaping forward, Fluttershy engulfed Rainbow Dash in a hug, smiling brilliantly. Humbled, Rainbow Dash glanced over at her friends, and saw them all quickly avert their eyes, Pinkie Pie even began whistling, in an attempt to spare her additional embarrassment.

"I'm a little confused about something though," Rainbow Dash admitted once Fluttershy had released her. "What made you finally change your mind?"

Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "When you started to make a Pinkie Promise, I suddenly knew that I didn't want you to change, and that this was the way you felt about me."

"So, in other words," Twilight summarized, "you got a taste of your own medicine."

Giggling timidly, Fluttershy nodded. "Exactly."

Suddenly perking up, Rainbow Dash said, "Hey, Fluttershy, remember that surprise I had for you yesterday? You wanna see it now?"

Astonished, Fluttershy inquired, "My surprise is here?"

"Well, not here, here, but yeah. Actually you've already seen it, but I don't think you were able to appreciate it the way you were."

Turning, Rainbow Dash led the way back along the river, followed by her six confused companions.

Upon reentering the valley, Rainbow Dash held up a hoof toward the towering flowers. "Zecora says they're called Sun Glows."

Fluttershy gasped as she gazed up at the giant flowers. "They're beautiful!"

"Yeah, I felt sorry about that little fight we had last week, and wanted to find a way to make it up to you," Rainbow Dash explained sheepishly. "Then, just a couple of days ago, I chased a rebel cloud over here and found these huge flowers, and knew that you would think they were totally awesome."

"Oh, and they are! Thank you, Rainbow Dash!" Giving her another hug, Fluttershy jetted toward the nearest flower.

"So...what happened last week that ya feel so bad about?" Applejack asked. "That is, if ya don't mind my askin'."

"Well..." Rainbow Dash hesitated, but watching as Fluttershy held the petals of the Sun Glow apart and disappeared inside, she suddenly didn't mind sharing her feelings so much. "Every now and then Fluttershy and I go flying together. We usually go around the edge of town, then out by the lake, and back to her cottage. It doesn't happen very often, and it usually takes a lot of convincing from me to get her into the air, but it's so worth it because, when it's just me and her up there with nopony else around, I can tell that she really enjoys it.

"Anyway, so last week was one of those times, but it was a really nice day and after only a few minutes in the air, some other Pegasi started flying around as well. Then Fluttershy got all self-conscious on me and just wanted to go back to her cottage." Rainbow Dash's face fell as she continued. "I told her not to worry about them, that they wouldn't even notice her, but she wouldn't listen. I just got so frustrated with her, and I said some mean things that I regretted. That's why I wanted to find a way to make it up to her, to show her that I was sorry."

"Oh, Rainbow, you don't have to worry yourself about that," Rarity replied, flipping her mane. "Fluttershy wasn't upset by anything you said. In fact she understood your frustration perfectly, she was just unhappy because she had let you down." Seeing the look of surprise on Rainbow Dash's face, Rarity smiled. "Our spa date was the very next day, and she told me all about it."

"But the whole reason Fluttershy didn't want to change back was because of how I've been treating her." Rainbow Dash hung her head. "She didn't want to disappoint me anymore."

"Rainbow Dash, you are much too hard on yourself," Rarity told her. "Although she has mentioned to me that it upsets her terribly when she disappoints you, it's never been because of how you made her feel."

"Huh?"

"Fluttershy knows that you push her because you believe in her. Like the time you mentioned, back when Trixie took over Ponyville. Yes, you volunteered her, and wouldn't let her back out, but she understands that you did it because she was the best pony for the job, and you knew that she would succeed. She would never have tried if it weren't for you, but with your urging, she successfully reached Twilight." Stepping forward, Rarity placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. "She once told me that she was very thankful to have you as a friend because you convince her to try things she would never try on her own, and while some of them may frighten her, it helps knowing that you are always by her side."

Sitting down, her eyes brimming with tears, Rainbow Dash found that she couldn't speak. She'd been beating herself up about this for so long, and Fluttershy was never even bothered by it.

Realizing that she was crying, she looked at her friends humbly. "Geez, you guys probably think I went soft on ya."

"Ya'll know we think highly of ya, and nothin' is gonna change that," Applejack said. Then, with a playful poke, she added, "Ya big softie."

Without a word, Rainbow Dash lunged forward, and grabbing Applejack's hat, shoved it into her face, blinding her and muffling her cry of surprise. Stumbling back, Applejack lifted her hat and glared at Rainbow Dash for a moment, then the whole group of friends erupted in laughter.

Laughing with the rest of them, Twilight felt her heart swell with pride. Her friends had done it, they had beaten the hypnosis. Over the course of the last day and a half their friendships had been pushed to their limits, but she held no doubt that they were now stronger than ever.

Standing there and watching each of them in turn, she couldn't imagine how life would be without all five of them, and felt very grateful that she would not yet have to learn.

Landing lightly beside Rarity, Fluttershy flung her legs around her neck. "I'm sorry I didn't say this before, but thank you for saving me, Rarity."

"Anything for you, darling," Rarity said, her cheek mashed up against Fluttershy's.

"It's not quite noon," Twilight mentioned, gazing at the sun nearly directly above. "If we hurry, we could make it to Ponyville before the spa closes."

Hearing this, Rarity suddenly perked up. "The spa? Really?!"

"Well, duh," Pinkie Pie chimed in. "Just look at your mane and coat! You definitely qualify for a spa emergency."

"Yeah," Applejack added. "And how could any of us possibly live with ourselves if ya lost your discount?"

"Oh...you girls are the best," Rarity stated happily.

"It's the least we can do to repay your heroism," Twilight replied. "You gave everything to save Fluttershy, so your makeover will be on us."

As they all gave Rarity a giant group hug, she asked, "And you're all going to be there as well, correct?"

"Of course," they all answered together.

"Well, actually," Rainbow Dash hesitated. "I don't know...after that picture that Featherweight took, I vowed to never be caught in that place ever again."

"I guess that's understandable." Rarity sighed, but then smiled slyly as a thought occurred to her. "But I hear tale that there is a masseuse who gives the best wing massages."

"Really," Rainbow Dash responded, surprised. She glanced back at her wing, which she was still holding out at an awkward angle. "You know, that may not be such a bad idea after all."

"Zecora!" Twilight called, turning to the Zebra. "Won't you join us?"

"I do not wish to intrude upon your spa date," Zecora answered. "After all, it is your victory that you celebrate."

"But it only ended well because of you," Fluttershy suddenly spoke up. "I would be honored if you joined us."

"Dear, sweet Fluttershy, to turn down your invitation, I cannot think why."

The six friends cheered with delight. Waiting just long enough for Fluttershy to fly up and grab a Sun Glow sprout to take home, they left the valley and started back east.

Trotting up beside Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy stated, "You have to admit though, it was pretty awesome how I carved that cloud to look like your cutie mark."

"It sure was!" Rainbow Dash agreed enthusiastically.

Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow arrogantly. "And how about the way I flipped in the air and threw you?"

"I have to admit...that was impressive," Rainbow Dash answered sincerely.

Suddenly leaping into the air, Fluttershy flashed a cocky smile. "Impressive? Of course it was impressive! I'm the awesomest pony around, and I'll prove it right now! You wanna race?!"

Everypony gasped in horror as they warily watched her gently land back on the ground.

Fluttershy broke into a sudden grin. "Gotcha!"

As the friends exploded in laughter, they began their trek back to Ponyville, eager to return to their simple, yet remarkable lives.

Love Your Difference

Chapter 11

Love Your Difference

Dear Princess Celestia,

As I'm sure you are aware, I am a very timid and fearful pony, and due to this, I sometimes let my friends down. While they are always patient and kind to me, deep down inside, I've always resented myself for my failure to live up to their expectations. More than anything, I used to want to change that about myself, but now, I understand that I don't have to. Today, thanks to the love and support of my friends, I let go of that resentment. I've learned that, in order to be a good friend, you must first love yourself, and embrace what makes you different.

Also, today I got a taste of what it's like to be disappointed with a friend, and how important it is to work through it together. Sometimes, somepony you care about may let you down, or do something wrong, and while its okay to get mad, you can't let it drive a wedge between you. A true friend will love you just as much for your failings as for your good qualities.

Those were the lessons I learned today, love your friends' failings as much as you love their successes, and always love what makes you different.

Your Faithful Subject,
Fluttershy

***

Neatly folding the letter and placing it in the top drawer of her desk, Princess Celestia smiled warmly as she wiped a tear from her eye.

Fluttershy's letter had touched her deeply, and she was so proud of the Pegasus for having learned such a valuable lesson. Gazing over at her sister, Princess Luna, as she sat on her small pile of pillows and studied the stars through a telescope for any sign of irregularities, Princess Celestia recalled the second part of the letter. That had been a lesson that even she, the ruler of Equestria, had had to learn the hard way.

Remembering the young mare's words, Celestia smiled sweetly. "Sister?"

"Hmm?" replied Luna without taking her eyes from the night sky.

"I love you," Celestia said affectionately.

Luna looked at her sister questioningly. "Well...that's good."

Turning back to her telescope, Luna gazed at the stars for a moment. Realizing that Celestia was still watching her, she glanced back over and stated, "I love you too, Sis."

Beaming brightly, Princess Celestia stepped onto the windowsill and launched herself into the night sky as another tear ran down her cheek, leaving her bemused sister to stare after her. Wondering what had suddenly gotten into her sappy older sister, Princess Luna slowly shook her head, and chuckling to herself, returned to her studies.

The End

Author's Note

Make sure you check out book two of my series, Apples Don't Fall Far from the Tree
Thanks for reading!

Ails and Remedies

Chapter 5

Ails and Remedies

Watching Rarity as she slowly stood and attempted to straighten out her mane, Twilight confirmed, "Yeah, I think so."

"So, now what do we do?" Rainbow Dash asked, sounding worried for the first time all day.

"I-I don't know," Twilight replied, feeling helpless. She glanced over at Pinkie Pie, who was still lying on the ground, poking at the dirt with her hoof unhappily. Then she turned her gaze to Fluttershy, still sitting on the log and staring at the branches above with an angry expression on her face.

Suddenly, Twilight stood up determinedly.

Her friends needed her. Pinkie Pie was upset and scared, Rainbow Dash could break out in a song and dance at any moment, Rarity had just become a country girl, and Twilight didn't even know what was going on with Fluttershy. They were counting on her, she would not fail them.

So think, she urged herself. What other options are there? The tree was the simplest solution, I should have known it wouldn't work. Magic is still worth a try, but I would have to take them all the way back to the library to do more research. If I tell them I want to leave the forest, will they think I'm giving up on them? But there weren't any other options in the Everfree Forest...or were there?

Realizing that the other five had been watching her expectantly since she had stood, Twilight flashed them a confident smile. "I think we need to go see Zecora."

Applejack hopped off the log. "That's a great idea, Twilight. We..." She trailed off when she noticed that Rarity was staring at her strangely, but when she turned, Rarity quickly looked away. Giving Rarity a funny look, Applejack continued, "We should get on over to her place lickety-split. I'm sure sh-" Turning abruptly to Rarity, who was once again staring at her, Applejack heatedly asked, "Can I help you?"

"Nope. I'm fine," Rarity replied.

Turning back to Twilight and obviously irritated, Applejack concluded. "She'll be able to help us, what with all her herbal knowledge and...WHAT THE HAY!" Applejack suddenly shouted, grabbing at her head.

Without warning, Rarity had snatched Applejack's hat from her head and placed it on her own, smiling pleasantly as she fidgeted with it until it sat just right.

As Applejack made to angrily take it back, Twilight quickly stepped between them. "Hold on, Applejack. She's like you now, remember? She's going to want that hat as much as you."

"B-but," Applejack stammered. "I-I love that hat."

She gave Applejack a pleading look. "Can you let her keep it for now? Please?"

"Fine," Applejack said with a heavy sigh. To Rarity, she added resentfully, "You can keep it for now, but I'm gonna want it back in a bit and ya better not give me no hassle bout it."

Smiling, Rarity tipped the hat in appreciation. "Thank you kindly."

Walking past Twilight, Applejack quietly mumbled, "She's gonna get on my nerves real quick."

Struggling not to laugh and further irritate Applejack, Twilight led the way to Zecora's.

A kindly sage who always spoke in rhyme, Zecora held many mysteries, and had the answers to many more. With her expert herbal skills and vast knowledge of both the magical arts and magical creatures, Twilight felt certain that Zecora would be able to help them out of this sticky situation.

They had met Zecora a couple of years ago, back when Twilight herself was still new to Ponyville. She had discovered that whenever Zecora came to town, the ponyfolk would all hide inside their homes out of fear. When her friends told her the stories they had heard about Zecora, Twilight had shrugged them off and tried to convince them that the stories were probably nothing more than idle gossip and rumors and that they should try and meet her instead of just believing what they've heard. Although her talk didn't convince any of her friends, it did give Apple Bloom, Applejack's little sister, enough courage to follow Zecora back into the Everfree Forest. Thanks to Apple Bloom's bravery, the six friends had had quite the misadventure that had ended with Zecora as a new and very valuable friend.

As they started off, Twilight glanced back to check on Pinkie Pie, who was bringing up the rear of their little group, and saw a single tear run down her face. Dropping back and allowing the others to pull ahead, Twilight trotted alongside her. "Pinkie, what's wrong?"

Pinkie Pie sniffled. "It's just that...I was really hoping the willow would fix us."

"I know." Twilight sighed. "I was really hoping it would help us too."

"And now, poor Rarity..." Pinkie Pie paused a moment as another tear rolled down her cheek. "She is under the spell too."

"Don't worry about Rarity, she'll be fine," Twilight reassured her. "She isn't any worse off than the rest of you, and you'll see, Zecora will fix all of you up in no time."

"I know, it's just th-"

"Quit being such a crybaby, for Celestia's sake!" Fluttershy suddenly interrupted.

"Fluttershy!" Twilight exclaimed, outraged as Pinkie Pie cowered away.

Ignoring Twilight, Fluttershy continued, "I mean, none of us are happy that the tree couldn't help us, or about Rarity, but-"

"Stop it, Fluttershy," Twilight warned.

"What is crying going to help? Do you see the rest of us crying? No, y-"

"Shut your apple pie hole!" Applejack commanded.

Turning, Twilight found Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity all glaring at Fluttershy, who seemed too surprised by their negative reaction toward her to argue. Realizing that their situation was about to turn ugly, and wanting to prevent anypony from saying something that she would later regret, Twilight quickly gripped Fluttershy's hoof and gave them a large, false smile. "Could you excuse us for just a moment? Fluttershy and I really need to have a private chat."

Before any of them could answer, Twilight and Fluttershy vanished in a flash of magenta light, and reappeared on the top of a hill that Twilight had spotted in the distance. Looking back, she could just barely make out her friends as they all gathered protectively around Pinkie Pie.

Turning her attention back to Fluttershy, who looked dazed by her sudden teleportation, Twilight demanded, "What in the wide world of Equestria were you doing back there?"

Seemingly unsteady on her hooves, Fluttershy shook her head. "I'm just so sick of Pinkie Pie. She's been nothing but a scaredy-pony ever since we entered the Everfree Forest, and now she's being a crybaby. I mean, how are the rest of you able to put up with it?"

"Because," Twilight retorted, "she is scared, upset, confused, and needs the support of her friends. You aren't helping her any by attacking her like that."

"Well..." Fluttershy hesitated, suddenly unsure of herself in the face of Twilight's anger. "We just need to get to Zecora's as soon as possible. And we really can't afford to have a pony as...weak as Pinkie Pie slowing us down."

"Weak," Twilight repeated, shocked. "Is that how you think of your true self?" When Fluttershy remained silent, she continued, "Relying on your friends is not a weakness. Being able to admit that you need help, that you can't handle things on your own, that's something many ponies are unable to do, and it most certainly does not make you weak. Fluttershy draws strength from us. As long as we will stand with her, and give her our love and support, she can overcome any fear and conquer any obstacle. That is what Pinkie Pie needs from us right now, what she needs from you." As Fluttershy hung her head, Twilight added, more gently, "She would do the same for you."

"Yeah," Fluttershy said, quietly. "She would, wouldn't she?"

Although Twilight felt sorry for Fluttershy, she believed that it was important to drive in her point. "Look, I understand that you may view your true self as weak, and maybe you are acting overly brave to feel better about it, but we're your friends, you don't have to pretend to be something you're not around us."

Suddenly, Fluttershy leaped into the air and yelled, "Pretend?! I'm not pretending to be brave, I am brave. What do you know anyway? What do any of you know?!"

"I know that the real Rainbow Dash would never treat Fluttershy the way you've been treating Pinkie Pie," Twilight came back.

"Well...well maybe she should!"

Dismayed by this statement, Twilight said, "You don't mean that."

"How could you know what I mean?" Fluttershy asked angrily, then dashed away.

Seeing that she was headed back toward their friends, Twilight focused on the spot she wanted to travel to, and with another flash of light, teleported next to a startled Rarity.

A moment later, Fluttershy landed next to Pinkie Pie, who covered her eyes with her hooves at her approach.

"I'm sorry I called you a crybaby, Pink."

Slowly, Pinkie Pie lowered her hooves and nodded, but still avoided Fluttershy's eyes. Putting a hoof under Pinkie Pie's chin, Fluttershy lifted her head and held her gaze. "Now, c'mon and show us all how tough Pinkie Pie is."

With a small smile, Pinkie Pie timidly replied, "Okay."

Turning, Fluttershy threw Twilight a dirty look, and then took the lead. After a few moments, the others slowly followed.

"See, I told ya she would come round," Applejack stated to Pinkie Pie. "Feelin' better now?"

"Lots," Pinkie Pie answered with a shy smile as she stepped forward and nuzzled Applejack affectionately. "Thanks."

Applejack returned her smile. "Now you go on ahead and catch up with the others, Twilight and I need to have a talk. We'll be along shortly."

Watching Pinkie Pie trot away, her curly mane and bushy tail bouncing with every step, Applejack asked, "What do ya reckon is goin' on with Fluttershy?"

"She's getting worse," Twilight responded. "She believes old Fluttershy is weak, and resents her for it."

Frowning at the information Twilight had just given her, Applejack unconsciously raised a hoof to fidget with her hat. Upon realizing she wasn't wearing it, she made a sour face. "But what's that got to do with Pinkie Pie? Why is she attackin' her so often?"

"Think about it," Twilight explained. "Pinkie has Fluttershy's personality, and right now, Fluttershy feels very insecure about her old self, so sh-"

"She's basically attackin' herself." Applejack finished. "It's her way of copin' with her insecurities. Actin' brave and putting Pinkie down makes her feel better bout herself, and her so-called weakness."

"That's exactly it," Twilight confirmed.

"But that ain't right, Twilight. Especially not for Pinkie Pie."

Suddenly unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Twilight's eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm worried, Applejack. I'm worried that we're losing her, and I can't do anything to stop it."

"Twilight...maybe it's not up to you to stop it," Applejack told her, placing a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Maybe Fluttershy needs to realize on her own what's best for her. All we can do is to be her friends and show her how much the old Fluttershy means to us."

"But...but she's getting more and more angry."

"Then we need to get more and more patient," Applejack stated firmly. "Our job is to focus on showin' her nothin' but love and acceptance. If we do that, she'll come to see the truth. In her heart, Fluttershy already knows it, and with our support, it will burn so brightly that she won't be able to ignore it." Removing her hoof and stepping back, Applejack added, "Besides, once we reach Zecora's, ya'll will figure somethin' out lickety-split."

"You're right, of course," Twilight said, wiping her eyes. "You're always right."

With an embarrassed smile, Applejack scratched her head. "Shoot, I don't know bout all that, but I sure am glad to help ya."

As they began following the others, Rainbow Dash swooped down from above, and landing directly in front of Twilight, scooped her up in a great big hug that lifted her off the ground.

"Rainbow!" Twilight gasped with the last of her air as she kicked her legs wildly in a futile attempt to breathe.

Finally releasing her, Rainbow Dash stepped back and smiled brightly. Panting, Twilight asked, "What was that all about?"

"Hugs are totally funnerific, especially when you share them with friends!" Rainbow Dash said enthusiastically. "And you looked like you needed to share some!" Suddenly serious, Rainbow Dash reared up and spread out her forelegs expectantly. "Want another?"

"No, no," Twilight said quickly, stumbling out of Rainbow Dash's reach. "But thank you."

Matching her pace, Rainbow Dash watched Twilight silently as she trotted beside her. Twilight, not used to being studied in this fashion by either Rainbow Dash nor Pinkie Pie, began to grow uncomfortable. Finally, she asked, "What's wrong Dash? Are you worried about something?"

"Just you," answered Rainbow Dash in a quiet, very un-Pinkie like tone. "Why are your eyes all red, have you been crying?"

Embarrassed, Twilight looked at the ground. "Yeah."

"You've been beating yourself up about all of this ever since the library," Rainbow Dash said seriously. "It's not your fault, you know."

"I know..."

"It's also not your fault that you couldn't find a way to fix it, not even an egghead like you can have all the solutions."

With a gasp, Twilight came to a sudden stop, eyes wide. Surprised, Rainbow Dash turned. "What?"

Pointing a hoof at Rainbow Dash in astonishment, Twilight exclaimed, "Y-you're not acting like Pinkie, you're talking like Rainbow Dash! Only Rainbow calls me an egghead, you sound just like her!"

Rainbow Dash broke out in a huge grin. "That's great, because I am me!" Then, tapping her chin in thought, she pondered, "Or is it because me am I?"

Frowning, Twilight stared at the Pegasus. She knew that she had just been talking to the real Rainbow Dash, but now Pinkie Pie's personality had taken over again. It was exactly like what had happened to Pinkie Pie when they had first left Ponyville, and just like Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash didn't seem to have noticed.

In a bright, cheery voice, Rainbow Dash announced, "I've got something to tell you, something that will turn that sad frown upside down!"

"What?" Twilight asked, feeling more confused than ever.

"I know I never act like it," Rainbow Dash said in a sincere tone, "and I call you an egghead a lot. But the truth is, I really respect you."

"Oh, Rainbow..."

"It's true," Rainbow Dash insisted. "You know so much, and you're super smart, and even when the rest of us are lost or confused, you always know what to do. I could never do some of the things you've done. It makes me proud to be your friend."

Touched, Twilight smiled warmly. "Thanks, Rainbow."

"See, I told you!" Rainbow Dash cried loudly, pointing a hoof at Twilight's face in triumph. "I knew that would bring out a smile!"

"Yeah, but when the real Rainbow Dash is back, you won't be smiling," Twilight replied with a chuckle. "She is going to be appalled that she told me this."

Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Well, maybe she'll remember why I told you and not mind so much."

"Yeah...maybe," Twilight smirked, still unconvinced.

"Besides, she needs to understand that not just any smile would do," Rainbow Dash explained. "Only the right kind of smile would have helped you in this situation."

"What do you mean 'the right kind of smile?' Aren't all smiles the same?"

"Of course not, silly," Rainbow Dash replied, playfully smacking Twilight's shoulder. "There's several kinds of smiles, and it's important to know which is needed at which time, and how to create each of them." As she continued, Rainbow Dash began to speak faster and faster, until Twilight found herself wondering how she could possibly be breathing.

"First, there's the happy smile, that's the smile you get when you feel all warmy and glowey inside, then there's the laugh smile, which really isn't even a smile at all, it's just the side effect of laughter, and it usually occurs just before, or immediately after a laugh, or sometimes both before and after! And there's the feel good smile, that's the one I just gave you. See, you didn't need to laugh, or feel happy, you just needed to feel good, so I knew the feel good smile was just right for you! Oh, I almost forgot about the carefree smiles, how could I forget them? Those are the smiles I usually create for myself! You wanna hear about them? You do?! Great! So, last I checked there are about thirty four types of carefree smiles, the first being-"

Rolling her eyes and wearing a cheerful grin, Twilight followed her friends as Rainbow Dash continued her long-winded explanation. They all knew that there was simply no stopping Pinkie Pie once she started on a topic such as this, and the best thing to do was to find a way to preoccupy yourself until the silly Earth pony finally ran out of things to say.

Although she briefly wondered if maybe she should worry about how quickly the spell had restrained Rainbow Dash's true self, Twilight couldn't help but giggle as she watched the prideful Pegasus mimic one of Pinkie Pie's most common antics.

Simply tuning Rainbow Dash out as she walked, Twilight spotted Rarity fidgeting with Applejack's hat. With her styled mane that bounced with every step, the hat sat precariously atop her head, and needed constant readjusting. Amused, Twilight watched the Unicorn as she stubbornly propped the hat against her horn, only to have it slip after a few feet.

Another pony was watching Rarity as well, and after a couple minutes, Applejack moved to trot beside her. Quickly raising a hoof protectively over the hat, Rarity eyed Applejack suspiciously.

"Whoa there, girl, I ain't tryin' to take the hat," Applejack assured her. "I just wanna talk to ya is all."

"What is it you all want to talk about?" Rarity asked.

Cringing, Applejack said, "It's bad enough that I gotta listen to ya talk like me in your fancy like prissy voice, but could ya at least do it proper like? Y'all is plural, you're only talkin' to me, so ya shouldn't use y'all."

Turning and flying backward, Fluttershy commented, "You use y'all for one pony all the time, A.J."

"Oh, she does! She does!" Rainbow Dash agreed, jumping up and down excitedly.

"Well...it ain't right," Applejack insisted. "If I made that mistake, then I reckon somethin' big must have been happenin' that distracted me."

"Actually, we were up at Sweet Apple Acres just talking when you last did it to me," Twilight chimed in.

Coming to a halt, Applejack leaned forward and glared at Twilight. With her neck fully extended and a back leg lifted off the ground, she demanded, "Just who's side y'all on, anyway?!"

"There it was again! She just did it again!" Rainbow Dash cried happily.

"Consarn it!" Applejack exclaimed, angrily kicking a rock.

Twilight placed a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Applejack, we weren't trying to make you mad."

Applejack shrugged off Twilight's hoof. "Don't be, I shouldn't be gettin' all worked up over nothin'." Looking at Rarity, she continued, "Anyway, you do realize you're not a country pony, don't ya?"

Scowling, Rarity lowered her head, as if she were about to charge. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm sayin' you're a prissy fuss bucket who loves wearin' froufrou dresses." Seeing the look of outrage on Rarity's face, Applejack quickly added, "It's the truth! You're under a spell, you've gotta trust me."

"Trust you? You're just after my hat," Rarity stated. "I wouldn't trust you anymore then I'd trust Pinkie Pie to watch over my cupcake."

At that exact moment, both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie fell to the ground, and covering their faces with their hooves, cried out in unison. "It's true!"

Intending to help Applejack convince Rarity of the truth, Twilight instead became distracted by the two ponies lying on the ground. She had expected something like that from Rainbow Dash, but not Pinkie Pie. The fact that they had both reacted the same way and said the same thing told her that, at that precise moment, both of them had been the same pony.

"Your hat!" Applejack exclaimed, interrupting Twilight's thoughts. "It's my hat, goll-darn it!"

"How in blazes is it your hat?" Rarity challenged. "Just cause you took it while I was sleeping doesn't make it yours."

"I didn't take nothin'," Applejack retorted. "Ya never wore that hat a day of your life til now."

"That ain't true at all," Rarity argued. "I don't go nowhere without my hat."

Suddenly rounding on Twilight, ears flat against her head and her face flushed with anger, Applejack grumbled, "This is ridiculous! I know that she's got my personality now and all, but I ain't never been this stubborn."

"Oh, yeah?" Fluttershy said with amusement. "Do I really need to remind you of the bunny stampede that trampled through Ponyville and destroyed every garden in town?"

"Land sakes!" Applejack cried out with a frustrated hoof stomp. "There are some things that a pony just can't live down!"

"Applejack is telling the truth, Rarity," Twilight interrupted. "You're not your true self right now, you are under a spell cast by the Sleeping Weeping Willow."

"The Sleeping...Weeping Willow?" Rarity repeated slowly as she began to recall the events that led them to the tree. Then, with a gasp, she rounded on Twilight. "The others! Are they cured? We made it to the willow, right? I remember seeing it."

Ears drooping, Twilight answered, "No, Rarity, they are still under the spell, and you have fallen under it as well."

"I...have?"

"Yes, Rarity, you have," Applejack said gently, having gotten her temper under control. "But don't you worry none, sugar cube, we're all here for ya."

With Fluttershy still in the lead, the six friends continued their trek to Zecora's home. As they trotted on, Applejack began helping Rarity to remember who she was by asking her questions about her sister, Sweetie Belle, as well as reminding her of her love of all things beautiful.

This freed Twilight to turn her thoughts back to Pinkie Pie's behavior. Had she witnessed Pinkie Pie's true self emerge for a second time? Now, the Earth pony was trotting slowly, her wide eyes darting this way and that, obviously Fluttershy once again. How was this happening, and what exactly did it mean?

Preoccupied with these thoughts, Twilight didn't notice the snake slithering across her path until she nearly stepped on it. Upon seeing its long green body and black lidless eyes, Twilight cried out in fear and vanished in a flash of magenta light, reappearing in another flash of light on a thick branch several feet above the ground.

"Make it go away, make it go away," Twilight pleaded as she stared at the reptile with horror.

Hearing Twilight's cry, Applejack turned, and seeing her in the tree and the snake below, snatched her hat from Rarity's head. Slowly approaching the snake, she began to wave her hat at it.

Rising up beside Twilight, and observing her clinging to the branch as though it were trying to shake her off, Fluttershy smirked. "So, you think this is a strength, huh? It looks more like a weakness to me."

Ignoring Fluttershy's condescending tone, Twilight exclaimed, "I hate snakes, Fluttershy, I hate 'em!"

"Come on!" Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "Show a little backbone, will ya!"

Advancing on the hissing snake as it backed away, Applejack shooed it with her hat until it turned and disappeared into the brush. Placing her hat atop her head, Applejack called up to Twilight. "All clear."

With another flash, Twilight teleported back to the ground and smiled self-consciously at Applejack. "Thanks."

Glaring at Fluttershy, Applejack seemed about to say something, but was interrupted by a voice that came to them from the thicket further ahead.

"Who is it that makes all that noise out there? Be it a creature, or be it a stallion or mare?"

Instantly cheered up by the familiar voice, Twilight hollered, "Zecora, it's Twilight, my friends and I need your help."

Emerging from the thick brush, Zecora spotted them and smiled heartily. Being a Zebra, Zecora's coat was mainly white, with dark gray stripes on her face and mane, along her back and tail, and on her legs. She wore a large gold earring on each ear, as well as five gold neck rings, and another five on her left foreleg. A dark gray spiral sun stood out against her plain white flank.

"I was gathering herbs for my potion when I was drawn here by your commotion," she stated with a strong accent.

Twilight grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I just had a bit of a scare. But there is something wrong with my friends, Zecora. They were-"

"Speak no more until you follow me home and have a seat," Zecora interrupted. "For I must say, all of you look beat."

Knowing that they were only about ten minutes away from Zecora's home, Twilight agreed that their problems could wait. Besides, everything that Zecora would need to create a potion that could counteract the spell would be there anyway.

Glancing back at the other five, Twilight found that her friends already seemed to be in better spirits. All around were expressions of hope and relief as they found comfort in the company of the wise sage, even Pinkie Pie was holding herself more confidently. Inspired by her friends, Twilight felt the last of her worry and anxiety slip away as she followed the Zebra home.

But then she noticed Fluttershy.

Hovering a couple of feet above her friends, Fluttershy seemed as angry as ever, and while Twilight watched, she sent a nasty look to an unaware Pinkie Pie trotting below. Once again, Twilight found herself wondering what was happening to the Pegasus, and if they could fix it before it was too late.

Thankfully, before she could fret over Fluttershy for too long, they arrived at Zecora's home.

Like the Golden Oaks Library, Zecora's dwelling was carved inside a giant tree, but unlike the library's tree, this tree was as sinister as any other in the Everfree Forest. With a tall and twisted trunk, branches that erupted at awkward angles, and large roots that reached out from the ground before it, the tree looked as if it had spent decades struggling to escape from the earth that imprisoned it.

The first time the six friends had come here, they had been frightened by this place, and even now, Twilight didn't need to wonder why. With a decorative mask leaning against one of its large protruding roots, a smaller mask hanging above the door as well as several glass bottles of various colors hanging from vines, and two windows illuminated with candlelight on either side of the door that resembled glowing eyes, the Zebra's home fit right in with its creepy surroundings.

Inside wasn't much better, but once the ponies had learned that the masks were from Zecora's homeland, and the bottles were for her numerous potions, they overcame their initial fear and found it to be quite cozy.

Consisting of a single large, circular room, there were no furnishings except for the bed in a small alcove to the right of the door. Instead, shelves and tables were carved from the walls, holding various bottles of potions and ingredients, books, and candles. In the center of the room was a small fire pit ringed with stones upon which a large cauldron sat, bubbling and hissing as it brewed Zecora's latest concoction. Hanging from the walls were several more decorative masks, and a dreamcatcher was fixed to the door.

As the six friends entered and lay wearily on the floor, the fragrance from the steaming cauldron drifted over them. A pleasant scent, containing a hint of mint, the smell quickly reminded Twilight of how long it had been since her last meal as her stomach rumbled expectantly.

"You got anything to eat in this joint?" Fluttershy asked.

Shocked by Fluttershy's bad manners, Twilight reprimanded, "Fluttershy, don't be rude."

Waving a hoof at Twilight dismissively, Zecora studied Fluttershy thoughtfully for a moment. "I do not have anything for you hungry ponies six, but if you don't mind the wait, something I could quickly fix."

"No, that's all right," Twilight replied quickly, still eyeing Fluttershy with displeasure. "We need your expertise in herbalism for much more than a meal."

Opening her saddlebag, Zecora removed a long green vine and began to cut it into small pieces on the table next to the door. "Tell me, Twilight Sparkle, what ails you, and I will begin the appropriate brew.

"Well, um," Twilight hesitated as she tried to decide where to begin. "Do you know anything about the Sleeping Weeping Willow?"

As she dropped the pieces of vine into the cauldron and began stirring, Zecora answered, "Ah yes, I know well the Sleeping Weeping Willow. There is a good reason the grass around it is soft as a pillow."

"Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity are all under its spell now," Twilight explained hopefully. "Do you know how to counteract the spell?"

"I once saw this happen to a robin and chipmunk, they were left in quite a funk." Zecora smiled reassuringly. "It is not a spell but a simple hypnosis, a mind trick that hides the truth right under their noses."

Realization struck Twilight like a runaway carriage. "That explains it!" she exclaimed loudly.

Noticing Zecora's quizzical look, Twilight elaborated. "Both Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash have shown a hint of their true selves, but then almost immediately went back to the way they are now. They're fighting it, Zecora! If their true selves can push through, even just for a moment, then they still have a chance to overcome it for good!"

Zecora nodded but remained silent as she lifted a ladle and began pouring her mixture into several large bottles. After corking all the bottles, she said, "If your friends continue their fight, overcome it on their own they just might. It could take a couple of days, but I know an easier way." Indicating a shelf on the other side of the room, she stated, "I can cure their woes with ease. Would you fetch me that green jar, please?"

As Twilight reached across the room with her magic and brought the jar floating toward them, Zecora explained, "In that jar is an extract from the Sun Glow's sprout. It will cure your friends without a doubt."

Pinkie Pie, who had been lying on the floor and watching Rarity sadly, suddenly perked up at the mention of an unknown plant. "What's a Sun Glow?" she asked, intrigued.

"It is a beautiful flower of immense size," Zecora answered. "That glows with the golden orange of a sunrise."

"It sounds wonderful," Pinkie Pie replied softly, her eyes wide with fascination.

Relief flooded through Twilight, she had known that Zecora would hold the answer. Still, as was her nature, a small bit of her worry remained. "And you're sure it'll work?"

"The Sun Glow's sprout will clear their minds," Zecora spoke with confidence. "And make their true selves much easier to find."

While Twilight and Zecora were talking, Applejack noticed that Rainbow Dash was acting strangely. Every so often, Rainbow Dash would turn her head and stare at her tail with a frown, and once, she even poked at it. Curious, Applejack watched her closely, trying to figure out what exactly was bothering the Pegasus, and gasped when she saw Rainbow Dash's tail twitch.

One very unique talent Pinkie Pie had was what she called her 'Pinkie Sense', an ability to predict events in the near future by the random twitches of her body parts. With this Pinkie Sense, Pinkie Pie was able to accurately predicted that something scary was about to happen, the appearance of a rainbow, or even a nearby door opening.

Of all her twitches, however, Pinkie Pie was best known for her tail twitch. Everypony in Ponyville knew that Pinkie Pie's twitchy tail meant that something was about to fall. The twitchy tail prediction always came true, and anypony near her when her tail twitched immediately ducked and covered.

Now, watching Rainbow Dash's tail as it twitched yet again, Applejack felt a knot of dread in her stomach. "Uh, Pinkie...er, Dashie...um..." Applejack stammered, then yelled, "There's a tail a-twitchin' here!"

With several loud gasps, everypony in the room ducked and covered their heads with their hooves, waiting for the prediction to come true. Startled, Twilight did the same, but as she did so, she lost focus on her spell and the glass jar fell to the floor, where it shattered.